Lebanon Township Committee Minutes of Regular Meeting

September 19, 2007

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Edward Post called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and stated that in compliance with the “Open Public Meeting Act” this is a Regular Meeting of the Township Committee as published in the Hunterdon Review, the agenda has been posted at the Municipal Building and distributed to the Hunterdon Review, Courier News, the Express Times, the Hunterdon County Democrat and the Star Ledger.

FLAG SALUTE

Mayor Post asked everyone to stand for the flag salute.

ROLL CALL

Present - Ed Post Patricia Schriver Jay Weeks

George Piazza Francis Monahan

Absent -

Also Present – Attorney Eric Bernstein and Clerk Karen Sandorse and 14 members of the public.

PRESENTATION OF MINUTES

Motion by Mr. Piazza, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved the September 5, 2007 regular meeting minutes.

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved the September 5, 2007 executive session minutes.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved Resolution No. 66-2007 and convened in executive session at 7:03 p.m. Action may be taken when the regular meeting is reconvened.

TOWNSHIP OF LEBANON

RESOLUTION NO. 66-2007

BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Township Committee of the Township of

Lebanon, that in compliance with N.J.S.A. 10:4-12, this meeting will be closed to the

Public to discuss the following matters:

Contract Negotiations – Municipal Court

Attorney Bernstein stated that since the Committee had originally passed Resolution No. 66-2007 to discuss two items and at this time it is the Committee’s desire to come out of closed session, complete the public session and go back into executive session to complete their discussions the following motion is in order.

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee reconvened the Regular Committee meeting at 7:57 p.m. and amended Resolution No. 66-2007 in suspending the Resolution and going back to the regular order of business and which will be recommenced later in the meeting.

Attorney Bernstein stated that all members of the Governing Body present at the commencement of the executive session were present at the recommencement of the open session as well as the Township Clerk and the Township Attorney. The Committee met with the Mayor, Committee President and Township Administrator from the Township of Clinton to discuss issue with the possible agreement relative to municipal court matters. The Township Committee heard a presentation from the Clinton Township Officials and at this time has decided to take no action. There may be action taken later in the meeting depending on the second executive session.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 67-2007 – B.A.N. Renewal

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Piazza and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee adopted Resolution No. 67-2007. (as attached)

OLD BUSINESS

Solid Waste Management Plan Amendment – Steve O’Reilly

Mr. Steve O’Reilly, Lebanon Township’s SWAK Representative, was in attendance to discuss an amendment that the State is promulgating and plans on implementing. The time frame is probably sometime late next year. There are a few issues that will have an impact on the municipalities. The State has a few goals in mind. They would like to establish minimum performance responsibilities for the Township, rationing up the 35% to 50% rate in recycling. They would like to have the Township incorporate enforcement to oversee the issues that they are brining forward. They also want the Township to have a staff member who will educate the generators of the solid waste and they want an effective way of reporting on the recyclables.

The basic purpose of the amendment is to establish enforcement mechanism.

If the municipality does not have someone to oversee the enforcement, Hunterdon County would provide the service. In a case of non-compliance the County would step in to address.

Fees have not been structured and enforcement numbers have not been structured.

No action needs to be taken at this time. Mr. O’Reilly will provide the Committee with the Township prior statistics.

Teetertown Ravine

Mr. Piazza stated that he did go and view the Teetertown Ravine due to the concerns raised by local residents at the prior meeting. Mr. Piazza stated that there is definitely a problem. The Clerk is to ask the DPW Supervisor of the status of the situation.

NEW BUSINESS

Police Chief Request to Advertise for a Replacement Officer

Chief Mattson has requested to advertise for a replacement officer. Mr. Monahan stated that the Committee would have to establish how they will go about appointing a new officer as the Rules and Regulations of the Department have not been adopted.

Attorney Bernstein stated that the Committee can authorize the Chief to advertise for applicants. The process in which the Committee will follow in hiring the officer still needs to be determined.

Motion by Mr. Monahan, seconded by Ms. Schriver and carried by favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee authorized the Chief to advertise for applicants for a new patrolman. AYES: Piazza, Post, Schriver, Monahan NAYS: Weeks Mr. Weeks stated that he contends that the Township does not need 9 police officers.

Approve Raffle License Application – Voorhees High School Cheerleading Association – 10/20/07

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Piazza and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved a Raffle License application for the Voorhees High School Cheerleading Association, which event will take place on 10/20/07.

Request from DPW Supervisor to Seek Bids for Road Materials-

Heating and Automotive Fuel

Motion by Mr. Monahan, seconded by Ms. Schriver and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved the DPW Supervisor’s request to seek bids for road materials and heating and automotive fuel.

PRESENTATION OF VOUCHERS

Motion by seconded Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Piazza and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote the Township Committee approved the September 19, 2007 in the amount of $190,381.36.

CORRESPONDENCE

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Motion by Mr. Piazza, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee opened the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

Mr. Anthony Casale inquired on the status of the SWAK Church property title search.

Mr. Anthony Casale questioned the salary of the prospective new police officer hire.

Relative to the recycling report given by Mr. O’Reilly, Mr. Casale question if he understood correctly, that the haulers would not pick up the solid waste if commingled with recyclables.

Mr. Art Gerlich asked for an update on the Library Roof bid specifications.

Attorney Bernstein will look into the matter.

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee authorized the Clerk to advertise for the acceptance of bids for the Library roof.

Motion by Mr. Piazza, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved Resolution No. 66-2007 to go back into executive session at 8:26 p.m., pursuant to the provisions of Resolution No. 66-2007 for the reasons as set forth in said resolution.

TOWNSHIP OF LEBANON

RESOLUTION NO. 66-2007

BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Township Committee of the Township of

Lebanon, that in compliance with N.J.S.A. 10:4-12, this meeting will be closed to the

Public to discuss the following matters:

Personnel Matters – Code Enforcement

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Monahan and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee reconvened the Regular Committee meeting at 9:57 p.m.

Attorney Bernstein stated that all members of the Governing Body present at the commencement of the executive session were present at the recommencement of the open session as well as the Township Clerk and the Township Attorney. The Governing Body met with representatives from the Lebanon Township Zoning Board, Planning Board and the Zoning Officer relative to Code Enforcement issues and the Zoning Officers position. The Zoning Officer advised the Committee that he will not be seeking reappointment in the 2008 year.

Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Piazza and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee authorized the Clerk to seek applications for a new Zoning Officer.

ADJOURN

Having no further business to come before the Committee a motion was made by Mr. Piazza, seconded by Mr. Monahan, and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote to adjourn the meeting at 9:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________

Karen J. Sandorse, RMC/CMC

Municipal Clerk

Approved ___________________________

Edward L. Post III, Mayor