August 17, 2004 Minutes

August 17, 2004

In the Mayor’s absence, Council President Anthony O’Toole opened the regularly scheduled meeting with a salute to the flag and moment of silence.

He 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, 2004”.

Under Roll Call the following council members were present: Councilwomen Haven, Houser, Sheilds and Wyman, Councilmen Witzig and O’Toole. Borough Solicitor John B. Kearney was also present. Mayor Griffith was absent.

Motion was made by Councilwoman Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman to approve the minutes from the July 20, 2004 meeting and July 27, 2004 Special Meeting. All members voted yes.

Council President O’Toole called for comments from the public on agenda items:

Joe Quigley, 1600 Prospect Ridge Blvd. spoke on the Cable TV Franchise renewal with Comcast. He said he went to Haddonfield and reported that their agreement has something about poling tax. Solicitor Kearney said that the agreements he has seen has not had poling tax in them. Discussion followed between Solicitor Kearney and Mr. Quigley; with the outcome being that they were to meet Friday at 10:00am in the Solicitor’s office to further discuss the upcoming renewal with Comcast. Council President O’Toole said that he will call for a vote to have the Ordinance tabled for tonight.

Barry Schultz, 24 8th Avenue told council that 8th Avenue looks the best it has ever looked, but was told by his neighbor that part of his driveway apron in approximately 16.5 inches on his property. Council President O’Toole said he would check with the Engineer in the morning. Mr. Schultz reported that the contractors are now saw-cutting the apron.

The following Committee Reports were presented:

Councilwoman Beth Ann Haven reported that she will be out of commission for at least the next month and that Councilwoman Trish Sheilds and Councilman Anthony O’Toole both said they would cover for her in her absence.

Councilman Donald Witzig said that he and the Fire Chief met earlier tonight with Barrington regarding joining Fire Departments. He thanked Roni Olizi for her work on the tree problems.

Councilwoman Andrea Wyman reported that the Haddon Heights Environmental Committee asked her if council would object to them trying to turn the area behind the tennis courts into a bike path or something else for recreational activities. Council President O’Toole suggested talking to the Superintendent of Public Works Gary Geserick. Wyman said they do have all the information needed and she noted that monitoring wells have been testing the area for 25 years! She got the okay to proceed.

Councilwoman Sheilds reported that the soccer fields once again suffered damage due to a jeep being driven around the fields. She suggested fencing the area. Regarding the skate park, Sheilds said volunteer adults are needed. On the topic of Public Access Channel 19 she said that 40 letters have gone out to businesses to see if they want to advertise. On the School Bond Issue, she said that the Bond Task Force has everything ready to go for a vote in January.

Council President Anthony O’Toole said that a grant is available and suggested it to Councilwoman Sheilds for the fencing around the soccer fields. He also mentioned that information has been received about several grants available with a filing deadline of September 30. The Finance Committee said they would work on them. O’Toole said he would contact Bob Hunter regarding a grant available to libraries. Reporting for Public Works, O’Toole said that the Superintendent asked him about the recycling schedule for next year because the deadline for putting items in the 2005 calendar is coming up soon. O’Toole went over the projects that are either finished, near done or upcoming, particularly tree trimming and take downs, Oak Avenue and Haverford Avenue.

Councilwoman Haven said that the water company cut phone lines while doing work on Kings Highway and the County gave an emergency status to the situation allowing contractors to work during the night to make the necessary repairs. She said that hopefully the last night for them working through the night was last night.

Old Business:

Public hearings and final adoptions of Ordinances 2004-1174, 1175, 1176, and 1177.

Ordinance 2004-1174 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 69 of the Code of the Borough of Haddon Heights Entitled Licenses, Permits and Fees. ($5.00 fee for certified copy of Domestic Partnership Certificate).

Hearing or seeing no comments from the public, motion to close the public hearing was made by Councilwoman Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. All were in favor.

Motion to adopt Ordinance 2004-1174 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilwoman Sheilds. Under roll call all were in favor.

Ordinance 2004-1175 – Ordinance of the Borough of Haddon Heights, County of Camden, New Jersey Canceling Certain Funded Appropriation Balances Heretofore Provided for Various Capital Projects and Reappropriating Such Funded Appropriation Balances for Other Capital Projects. (Funds from Capital Ordinance 2001-11-7(1.9) being transferred towards the Third Avenue Project.)

No comments were made. On the Solicitor’s advise, no motion to close the public hearing was made.

Motion to adopt Ordinance 2004-1175 was made by Councilwoman Haven, seconded by Councilman Witzig. Under roll call all were in favor.

Ordinance 2004-1176 – An Ordinance Granting Renewal of Municipal Consent to Comcast of Garden State L.P. to Construct, Connect, Operate and Maintain a Cable Television and Communications System in the Borough of Haddon Heights, New Jersey. (15-year renewal with a 10-year automatic renewal as provided by NJSA 48:5A-19 and 25.)

Motion to TABLE Ordinance 2004-1176 was made by Councilman O’Toole, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Ordinance 2004-1177 – Bond Ordinance for 2004 Capital Projects. ($316,575 to purchase pagers for the Fire Department & Ambulance Corps, Pulse Oximeters for Ambulance Corps, purchase of trash truck, improvements to soccer fields, 8th Avenue resurfacing, purchase of police cruiser, computer equipment and breathalyzers for Police Dept., and improvements to Fire Department’s overhead garage door.)

No comments were made. On the Solicitor’s advise, no motion to close the public hearing was made.

Motion to adopt Ordinance 2004-1177 was made by Councilwoman Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Under roll call all were in favor.

New Business:

Introduction of Ordinance 2004-1178. Public hearing and final adoption will be held on September 7, 2004 at 8:00pm.

Ordinance 2004-1178 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 69 of the Code of the Borough of Haddon Heights Entitled Licenses, Permits and Fees. (Adds $780.00 fee for Record Reproductions on Disk (tax information sent to search companies).

Motion to introduce Ordinance 2004-1178 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilwoman Sheilds. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:89 – Resolution Authorizing Renewal of Vision Service Plan for Fulltime Employees and Retirees. This Resolution was changed before adoption. The Resolution adopted included the changes.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:89 was made by Councilwoman Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:108 – Resolution Canceling Outstanding Checks from the Municipal Court Bail Account and General Account.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:108 was made by Councilman Witzig, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:109 – Resolution Requesting that Mayor Gary Passanante of Somerdale be Member of the Property Tax Convention Task Force.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:109 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilwoman Sheilds. All members were in favor.

Resolution 2004:110 – Resolution Authorizing the Refund of Tax Overpayments. (Overpayments caused by refinancing, sale of a property or a duplicate payment made by mortgage company and search company).

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:110 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilwoman Sheilds. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:111 – Resolution Refunding Tax Overpayment for Totally Exempt Property. (Totally exempt Veteran’s mortgage company paid the taxes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters totaling $3,874.61).

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:111 was made by Councilman Witzig, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:112 – Resolution Ratifying the Payment of Selected Claims in the Month of July 2004.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:112 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilman Witzig.

Resolution 2004:113 – Resolution Canceling Reserves.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:113 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilman Witzig. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:114 – Resolution Awarding a Contract to Total System Applications Group, LLC for Computer Maintenance in the Amount of $6720.00.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:114 was made by Councilwoman Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Upon roll call Haven, Sheilds, Wyman and O’Toole voted yes, Houser and Witzig voted no.

Resolution 2004:115 – Resolution Awarding a Contract to Remington & Vernick Engineers for Engineering and Survey Services Related to the Sanitary Sewer Siphon Systems in the Haverford Avenue Area in the Amount of $11,400.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:115 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilwoman Sheilds. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:116 – Resolution Awarding a Contract to Remington & Vernick Engineers for Professional Services Related to the Oak Avenue Storm Sewer Rehabilitation Project in the Amount of $1,100.00.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:116 was made by Councilwoman Haven, seconded by Councilman Witzig. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:117 – Resolution Awarding a Contract to Remington & Vernick Engineers for Professional Services Related to the Year 1 Regulatory Compliance Planning Services, NJ Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Regulations in the Amount of $8,600.00.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:117 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilwoman Sheilds. Upon roll call all were in favor.

Resolution 2004:118 – Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills and Claims for August.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2004:118 was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilman Witzig. Upon roll call all were in favor.

There were no Public Comments.

Motion to go into a closed session was made by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilman O’Toole. All were in favor.

________________________________ 8:55pm

Joan D. Moreland, Borough Clerk