January 3, 2004 Minutes

January 3, 2004

Monsignor John T. Frey, St. Rose of Lima R.C. Church opened the 2004 Annual Reorganization Meeting with the invocation.

Mayor Susan R. Griffith led the salute to the flag.

The Mayor recognized Senator Wayne Bryant and Assemblymen Roberts and Greenwald, as well as former Council Members who were in attendance.

Mayor Griffith then stated, “that in accordance with Section 5 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, 1975, notice of this meeting was posted on the bulletin board designed for that purpose and notice was mailed to the official newspapers provided by resolution adopted by Mayor and Council, January 4, 2003”.

Oath of Office was administered by Lee A. Solomon to Mayor Susan R. Griffith who was joined by her family.

Oath of Office was administered by Senator Wayne Bryant to Councilwoman-elect Trish Sheilds who was joined by her family.

Oath of Office was administered by Albert J. Olizi, Jr., Esquire, to Councilwoman-elect Beth Ann Haven who was also joined by her family.

Mayor Griffith said she was honored to be Mayor for a second term and especially honored to be sworn into office by her close friend and former council member Lee A. Solomon.

Councilwoman Trish Sheilds thanked Senator Wayne Bryant for swearing her into office. She also extended her thanks to various members of the Democrat party for their help, and referred to Kim Klutchnick as a “worthy opponent”. She said she feels blessed with her family and looks forward to working with fellow council members.

Councilwoman Beth Ann Haven thanked Albert Olizi for swearing her into office, the Republican Club for their support and her running mates. She said she considers herself a volunteer who promises hard work and that she would be available to all residents. In closing, she said her decisions would be dictated by what is best for the residents and asked that partisan politics be put aside.

Mayor Griffith called for Roll Call, the following council members were present: Councilwomen Haven, Houser, Sheilds and Wyman, Councilmen Witzig and O’Toole. New Solicitor John B Kearney, Esquire also joined council on the dais.

The Mayor announced that she was just informed by Deputy Tax Collector Patricia Cooper, that the collection rate for 2003 was at all-time high at 98.57%! She commended Mrs. Cooper for her efforts on behalf of the Tax Department and led a well deserved round of applause for her. Mayor Griffith expressed her gratitude to Judy Bitner of the Administration staff for all the hard work she did in putting the agenda together. Mayor Griffith then announced that Ordinance 2003-1164 was being introduced by title only today due to time constraints. She said copies of the ordinance would be available for the public in the Tax Office.

New Business:

Introduction and First Reading of Ordinance 2004:1164. Public hearing and final adoption will be held on February 3, 2004 at 8:00 PM at the Borough Hall.

Ordinance 2004:1164 - Ordinance Establishing Procedures To Adopt Personnel Practices and

Authorizing the Borough Clerk to Implement Said Practices Within All Officials, Appointees, Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers and Independent Contractors of The Borough of Haddon Heights.

Motion to introduce Ordinance 2004-1164 was made by Councilman O’Toole, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. All members of council voted yes.

Resolution 2004:01 – Resolution Appointing Fire Chief – Steven R. Kinky

Resolution 2004:02 – Resolution Appointing Chief of Ambulance Corps – John Zenuk

Resolution 2004:03 – Resolution Appointing Municipal Arborist – Steve Dorsey

Resolution 2004:04 – Resolution Appointing Court Administrator – Catherine Lawson

Resolution 2004:04A - Resolution Appointing Municipal Judge – Steven Feld

Resolution 2004:05 – Resolution Appointing Deputy Court Administrator – Michele Busarello

Resolution 2004:06 – Resolution Appointing Deputy Clerk – Patricia A. Cooper

Resolution 2004:07– Resolution Appointing the Auditor – Bowman & Company

Resolution 2004:08 – Resolution Appointing Bond Counsel – Parker McCay & Criscuolo, PA

Resolution 2004:09 – Resolution Appointing Borough Solicitor –John B. Kearney, Esquire

Resolution 2004:10 – Resolution Appointing Professional Risk Manager – Hardenbergh Insurance

Resolution 2004:11 – Resolution Appointing Borough Engineer – Remington & Vernick

Resolution 2004:12 – Resolution Appointing A Special Projects Engineer – Schoor DePalma, Pennoni Associates, Inc..

Above Resolutions were moved by Councilman O’Toole, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Under roll call all members of council present voted yes. Mayor Griffith issued the Oath of Office to the above appointees.

Resolution 2004:13 – Resolution Regarding Rules of Council.

Resolution 2004:14 – Resolution Authorizing Payment of Interest and Bonds

Resolution 2004:15 – Resolution Setting Interest Rate for 2004

Resolution 2004:16 – Resolution Concerning Haddon Heights Public Library Fees.

Resolution 2004:17 – Resolution Authorizing Use of a Cash Management Plan.

Resolution 2004:18 – Resolution Concerning Tax Search Clerk – Patricia A. Cooper.

Resolution 2004:19– Resolution Designating Person to Issue Local Improvement Certificates – Joan Moreland.

Above Resolutions were moved by Councilwoman Sheilds, seconded by Councilwoman Haven. Under roll call all members of council voted yes.

Resolution 2004:20 – Resolution Confirming the Attached 2004 Appointments.

Above Resolution was moved by Councilwoman Wyman, seconded by Councilman O’Toole. Under roll call all members of council voted yes. Mayor Griffith asked the appointees to stand, at which time they received a round of applause; she then issued the oath of office to the appointees.

Councilman Witzig made a motion to nominate Anthony O’Toole as President of Council, seconded by Councilwoman Wyman. Under roll call all members of council voted yes with the exception of Councilman O’Toole who abstained from voting.

Mayor Griffith read the proposed list of 2004 Councilmatic Appointments, and then Councilwoman Sheilds made a motion to adopt the 2004 Councilmatic Chairmanships and Councilmatic Committees, seconded by Councilwoman Haven. Under roll call all members of council voted yes.

2004 COUNCILMATIC APPOINTMENTS

Administration/Personnel Andrea Wyman, Chair

Trish Sheilds

Anthony O’Toole

Finance, Budgets & Grants Anthony O’Toole Chair

Donald Witzig

Trish Sheilds

Construction/Zoning Beth Ann Haven, Chair

Trish Sheilds

Anthony O’Toole

Intergovernment Melanie Houser, Chair

Andrea Wyman

Beth Ann Haven

Public Safety Donald Witzig, Chair

Beth Ann Haven

Andrea Wyman

Public Works Anthony O’Toole, Chair

Donald Witzig

Melanie E. Houser

Parks/Recreation Trish Sheilds, Chair

Melanie Houser

Andrea Wyman

Resolution 2004:21 – Resolution Establishing Official Holidays

Resolution 2004:22 – Resolution Designating Flood Insurance Designee – Joan Moreland

Resolution 2004:23 – Resolution Designating Newspapers for Legal Advertising - Courier Post & Haddon Herald

Resolution 2004:24– Resolution Authorizing the Designation of Newspapers to Receive All Notices of Meetings as Required Under the Open Public Meetings Act – Courier Post and Haddon Herald

Resolution 2004:25 – Resolution Authorizing the Fixing of Charges for Notice of Meetings as Required by the Open Public Meetings Act

Resolution 2004:26 - Resolution Designating the Date, Time and Place of Council Meetings for 2004 in Accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act

Resolution 2004:27– Resolution Designating Depositories of Funds for Various Accounts

Resolution 2004:28 – Resolution Authorizing the Deputy Municipal Court Administrator to Act on Behalf of the Court Administrator in Her Absence

Resolution 2004:29 – Resolution Authorizing Appointment and Alternate to the Camden County Community Development Board of Directors (Mayor Griffith and Anthony O’Toole)

Resolution 2004:30 – Resolution Adopting the 2004 Temporary Budget

Resolution 2004:31 – Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills and Claims

Resolution 2004:32 – Resolution Appointing a Fund Commissioner and Alternate to the Camden County Joint Insurance Fund (Joan Moreland and Mayor Griffith)

Resolution 2004:33 – Resolution Appointing Tax Assessor for Appeals – Christine Wahl

Resolution 2004:34 – Resolution Designating Depositories for Funds

Motion was made to adopt the above resolutions by Councilman Witzig, seconded by Councilman Houser. Upon roll call all members of council voted yes.

Mayor Griffith called for remarks from council members at which time several members extended their wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year. Councilwoman Wyman said the remarks made by the new council members were “very inspiring”.

There were no remarks from the public.

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman O’Toole seconded by Councilwoman Houser. All council members voted yes.

______________________________________ 11:55am

Patricia A. Cooper, Deputy Borough Clerk