January 16, 2007 Minutes

January 16, 2007

Council President Trish Sheilds opened the regularly scheduled meeting with a salute to the flag and moment of silence.

She then read, “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 2, 2007”.

Under Roll Call the following council members were present: Councilmen Lee Wentz, Gordon Shopp, Thomas Ottoson and Donald Witzig, Councilwomen Barbara Cortese, and Trish Sheilds. Solicitor John B Kearney was also present.

At this point in the meeting, Council President Trish Sheilds invited Beth Ann Haven to come forward to be sworn into office. Ms. Haven will be filling the last year of the unexpired term of Mayor Susan R Griffith who resigned 12/31/06.

Mayor Haven was sworn into office by Albert J. Olizi, Esquire and was joined by her mother, sisters and nieces. She received a round of applause, was welcomed by council members and then assumed leadership the meeting.

Mayor Haven said she was humbled and dazed. She thanked her family and friends and the Haddon Heights Republican Club for their support. Haven also thanked Council President Trish Sheilds for carrying on the Mayor’s duties the past few months. Mayor Haven said that former Mayor Susan R. Griffith was an effective leader and role model. Haven then reminisced of growing up in Haddon Heights and now becoming Mayor. She encouraged everyone to get involved in their town.

Motion was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Ottoson to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2006 and January 2, 2007 meetings. All members voted yes with the exception of Councilman Wentz who abstained from voting on the December 19^th minutes.

Mayor Haven called for Committee Reports and the following were presented:

Council President Sheilds reporting for Parks & Recreation said she is still waiting for the results of environmental testing on the area behind the tennis courts. She also reported that renovations to the fields on Devon Avenue would be delayed due to the budget being introduced later. Regarding Finance, Sheilds reported that the State has changed the deadline for budget introduction to March 12^th.

Councilman Shopp reporting for Economic Development encouraged council members to approve the resolution on tonight’s agenda regarding the railroad station. He reported the next phase of the railroad crossing area would be landscaping.

Councilman Ottoson reporting for Public Safety read a report of year end activities for the Police Department. A full copy of the report will be on file in the Clerk’s office. Ottoson also said a meeting is scheduled this coming Friday with Barrington regarding shared services and administrative services in the Haddon Heights and Barrington Police Departments. He also reported that Police contract negotiations are ongoing and that he will be meeting the representatives next week. Ottoson also said he will be meeting with the members of the Fire Department. Regarding utility usage, Ottoson said he has been compiling data from the Borough’s paid bills. Councilman Ottoson also said he will be looking into possible solar devices.

With no further reports to be made, Mayor Haven called for remarks from the public on agenda items. There were none at this time.

Old Business:

Public hearing and final adoption of Ordinance 2006:1229.

Ordinance 2006:1229 – Ordinance of the Borough of Haddon Heights, County of Camden, New Jersey Canceling Certain ‘Funded Appropriations Balances Heretofore Provided for Capital Improvements and Reappropriating Such Funded Appropriation Balances for Other Capital Projects. (Balance from completed Capital project is being reappropriated so it can be used for the upgrading of Borough fuel tanks.)

Hearing or seeing no comments from the public on Ordinance 2006:1229, motion to close the public hearing was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Witzig. All were in favor. Motion to adopt Ordinance 2006:1229 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. Under roll call all members voted yes.

New Business:

Resolution 2007:39 – Resolution Granting Veteran and Disabled Person Deductions for 2006. (3 homeowners qualified for the veteran deduction and/or disabled person deduction for 2006.)

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:29 was made by Councilman Witzig, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:40 – Resolution Authorizing the Refund of Tax Overpayments. (Caused by refinancing, sale of property or duplicate payments.)

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:40 was made by Councilwoman Cortese, seconded by Council President Sheilds. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:41 – Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills and Claims for January.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:41 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Witzig. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:42 – Resolution Authorizing the Fire Department to Purchase Turn Out Gear Utilizing a State Contract. ($1,903.20 for one set of turn out gear which includes bunker pants and turn out coat.)

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:42 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:43 – Resolution Authorizing the Council President or Mayor to sign the License Agreement with Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail). (Will allow the Borough or any group acting on behalf of the Borough to use the Conrail property located by the train station, fountain/bench area and gazebo area.)

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:43 was made by Councilman Shopp, seconded by Councilman Ottoson. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:44 – Resolution Awarding a Contract to Fergusen & McCann in the Amount of $13,100 for Upgrading the Borough Owned Fuel Tanks. (DEP inspected the tanks and shut them down until upgrades were completed.)

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:44 was made by Councilman Witzig, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. Under roll call all members vote yes.

Resolution 2007:45 – Resolution Authorizing Transfers of Appropriation Reserves.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:45 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Wentz. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:46 – Resolution Authorizing a One-day License for Alcohol Consumption for “Neighbors Night Out” Being Held on May 19, 2007.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:46 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilman Witzig. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:47 – Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Block 82, Lot 13 to James Daniel Reeve and Pearl A. Reeve.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:47 was made by Councilman Ottoson, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. Under roll call all members voted yes.

Resolution 2007:48 – Resolution Awarding a Contract to Pennoni Associates for the Design Sign Phase of the Historic Railroad Enhancement Project.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2007:48 was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. 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 and concerns.

Dr. Nancy Hacker, Superintendent of the Haddon Heights School District offered her congratulations to Mayor Beth Ann Haven. She then said she wanted to give council and residents an update on the construction projects. She said a temporary Certificate of Occupancy has been granted to the Glenview School, Atlantic Avenue School is waiting for water service and the 7^th Avenue School construction has been delayed 3 weeks, but noted it should be done by April. Regarding the High School, Dr. Hacker said the CAD addition, interior renovations to the art room and science lab should be completed in the summer. Hacker said she is planning an open house in the spring with a tour of each school. She thanked everyone for their support of the bond referendum. Regarding the District’s budget, she said all departments have submitted their budgets and each has been reviewed. Dr. Hacker said she is seeking volunteers to attend a meeting regarding strategies for getting the budged passed. She said she is interested in having students work for in town businesses for credit and plans on working with the business community.

With no further comments to be made, motion to adjourn was made by Council President Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Cortese. All members were in favor.

Mayor Haven announced that council will be returning to the caucus meeting.

____________________________________ 8:35pm

Joan D. Moreland, Borough Clerk