Deputy Mayor 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.
Deputy Mayor Post asked everyone to stand for the flag salute.
Present - Patricia Schriver, Edward Post, Frank Morrison
Absent - George Piazza, Jay Weeks
Also Present - Attorney Phil George, Clerk Karen Sandorse and 6 members of the public.
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved the November 5, 2008 regular meeting minutes as written.
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved the November 5, 2008 executive session meeting minutes as written.
ORDINANCE
Introduction
Motion by Mr. Morrison, seconded by Ms. Schriver and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee introduced Ordnance No. 2008-12. (as entitled below)
STATE OF NEW
ORDINANCE NO. 2008-12
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CERTAIN EXPENSES
FROM THE CAPITAL
BUDGET OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE
STATE OF NEW
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MUNICIPAL GARAGE
Public Hearing to be held on December 17, 2008.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 98-2008
– Notice of Intent to Petition The
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved Resolution No. 98-2008 as written below.
RESOLUTION NO. 98-2008
RESOLUTION OF THE
WHEREAS, the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (Highlands Act), N.J.S.A. 13:20-1 et seq., finds and declares that protection of the New Jersey Highlands is an issue of State level importance because of its vital link to the future of the State’s drinking water supplies and other key natural resources; and
WHEREAS, the Highlands Act creates a coordinated land use planning system requiring the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) to prepare and adopt a Regional Master Plan for the Highlands Region and requiring that within nine to 15 months after September 8, 2008, each county and municipality located wholly or partially in the Preservation Area must submit a Petition for Plan Conformance to the Highlands Council for that portion of its jurisdiction lying within the Preservation Area; and
WHEREAS, the Highlands Act specifies that conformance with the Regional Master Plan (Plan Conformance) requires revisions to municipal and county master plans and development regulations as applicable to the development and use of land to align them with the goals, requirements, and provisions of the Regional Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Highlands Council’s Plan Conformance Guidelines require that for jurisdictions with any lands in the Preservation Area, a Notice of Intent to conform to the Regional Master Plan must be submitted to the Highlands Council as soon as practicable, but not later than February 1, 2009 and that for any lands in the Planning Area, a Notice of Intent may be submitted at any time; and
WHEREAS, Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County, NJ lies within the Highlands Region as defined by the Highlands Act, largely if not exclusively within the Preservation Area; and
WHEREAS, the Township Committee
of the
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township Committee of the
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this
Notice of Intent additionally specifies that the Township Committee of the
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this Notice of Intent provides
notice to the Highlands Council that the
Township Committee of the
Resolution No. 99-2008
– COAH – Seeking a Deadline Extension/
Substantive Certification
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved Resolution No. 99-2008 as written below.
RESOLUTION NO.
99-2008
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LEBANON SEEKING AN EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE TO PETITION FOR SUBSTANTIVE CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 114 AND THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE HIGHLANDS COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WHEREAS, on September 5, 2008, Governor Corzine signed Executive Order 114 which requires the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and the New Jersey Highlands Council (Highlands) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to coordinate the regulations of both agencies by maximizing affordable housing opportunities while preserving critical environmental resources; and
WHEREAS, COAH and the Highlands have prepared such an MOU, which was adopted by COAH on October 29, 2008 and by the Highlands Council on October 30, 2008; and
WHEREAS, conformance with the
Highlands Regional Master Plan (Plan Conformance) requires revisions to municipal and county master plans and
development regulations as applicable to the development and use of land to
align them with the goals, requirements, and provisions of the Regional Master
Plan; and
WHEREAS, COAH regulations establish a December 31, 2008 deadline for municipalities currently under the jurisdiction of COAH to submit third round petitions for substantive certification of a municipal housing element and fair share plan; and
WHEREAS, the MOU establishes a procedure that municipalities under the jurisdiction of both COAH and the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act may follow to seek an extension to the December 31, 2008 deadline set by COAH for the submission of third round petitions for substantive certification of a municipal housing element and fair share plan; and
WHEREAS, the MOU provides for an extension of the December 31, 2008 deadline to December 8, 2009 for any Highlands municipality under COAH’s jurisdiction that, before December 31, 2008: 1) submits a duly adopted Notice of Intent to Petition in accordance with the Highlands Council’s Plan Conformance Guidelines; and 2) submits a duly adopted resolution notifying COAH of its intent to petition COAH no later than December 8, 2009; and
WHEREAS, on December 3, 2008, the Township Committee of the Township of Lebanon adopted a resolution notifying the Highlands that the Township of Lebanon has set December 8, 2009, as the target date for submission of a Petition for Plan Conformance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Township of Lebanon hereby agrees that its deadline for the submission of a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:96-16 is extended from December 31, 2008 to December 8, 2009; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Township Committee of the Township of Lebanon directs the Lebanon Township Clerk and Attorney to immediately transmit a signed and sealed copy of this resolution to COAH; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Township Committee of the Township of Lebanon hereby directs the Lebanon Township Clerk and Attorney to immediately transmit a signed and sealed copy of the December 3, 2008 duly adopted Notice of Intent to Petition in accordance with the Highlands Council’s Plan Conformance Guidelines to COAH; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Township
Committee of the
Resolution No. 100-2008
– Chapter 159 – Hollow Road
Motion by Mr. Morrison, seconded by Ms. Schriver and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved Resolution No. 100-2008 as written below.
STATE OF NEW
RESOLUTION NO. 100-2008
WHEREAS, N.J.S. 40A4-87 provides that the Director of the
Division of Local Government Services may approve the insertion of any special
item of revenue in the budget of any county or municipality when such item
shall have been made available by law and the amount thereof was not determined
at the time of the adoption of the budget, and
WHEREAS,
said Director may also approve the insertion of an item of appropriation for an
equal amount, and
WHEREAS,
the Township of Lebanon has received $120,000.00 grant from the State of New
Jersey, Department of Transportation and wishes to amend its 2008 Budget to
include a portion of this amount as a revenue
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee of the Township of Lebanon,
Hunterdon County, State of New Jersey hereby requests the Director of the
Division of Local Government Services to approve the insertion of an item of
revenue in the budget of the year 2008 in the sum of $120,000.00 from:
Miscellaneous revenues
Special Items
of General Revenue Anticipated with
Prior Written Consent of the
Director of Local
Government Services:
State and Federal Revenues Off-Set with
Appropriations:
Hollow Road
Program-Municipal Aid Program
Pursuant to provisions of Statute, and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a like sum of $120,000.00 be and the same is hereby
appropriated under the caption of:
General Appropriations
(a)
Operations
Excluded from Caps
State and
Federal Programs Off-Set by
Revenues:
Hollow Road Program-Municipal Aid
Program
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
the Township Clerk forward two copies of this resolution to the Director of
Local Government Services.
Resolution No. 101-2008
– Chapter 159 – Body Armor
Motion by Mr. Morrison, seconded by Ms. Schriver and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved Resolution No. 101-2008 as written below.
STATE OF NEW
RESOLUTION NO.
101-2008
WHEREAS, N.J.S. 40A4-87 provides that the Director of the
Division of Local Government Services may approve the insertion of any special
item of revenue in the budget of any county or municipality when such item
shall have been made available by law and the amount thereof was not determined
at the time of the adoption of the budget, and
WHEREAS,
said Director may also approve the insertion of an item of appropriation for an
equal amount, and
WHEREAS,
the Township of Lebanon has received $886.32 grant from the State of New
Jersey, Department of Law & Public Safety and wishes to amend its 2008
Budget to include a portion of this amount as a revenue
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Committee of the Township of Lebanon,
Hunterdon County, State of New Jersey hereby requests the Director of the
Division of Local Government Services to approve the insertion of an item of
revenue in the budget of the year 2008 in the sum of $886.32 from:
Miscellaneous revenues
Special Items
of General Revenue Anticipated with
Prior Written Consent of the
Director of Local
Government Services:
State and Federal Revenues Off-Set with
Appropriations:
2008 Body Armor
Replacement Fund Program
Pursuant to provisions of Statute, and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a like sum of $886.32 be and the same is hereby
appropriated under the caption of:
General Appropriations
(b)
Operations
Excluded from Caps
State and Federal Programs Off-Set by
Revenues:
2008 Body Armor Replacement Fund
Program
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Township Clerk forward two copies of this resolution
to the Director of Local Government Services.
OLD BUSINESS
Police Chief’s Request to Purchase a Desk Top Computer
and a Lap Top Computer
Motion by Ms. Schriver,
seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by favorable roll call vote, the Township
Committee approved the Police Chief’s request to purchase a Desk Top Computer
at a cost of $1,531.90 and two Dell Laptop Computers for the police vehicles at
a cost not to exceed $2900.00 for two.
Police Chief’s Request to Purchase a Vehicle
Motion by Ms. Schriver,
seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by favorable roll call vote, the Township
Committee approved the Police Chief’s request to lease a 2009 Dodge
DPW Supervisor’s Request to Auction Off a Police Car
and Mason Dump Truck
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee authorized the DPW Supervisor’s request to auction off the 1994 Ford Mason Dump Vin. #2FDKF38GORCA83683 and the 2003 Crown Victorian, Vin. #2FAFP71W73X105924.
Paul Jones is to establish a minimum bid threshold for each vehicle prior to advertising.
Pelio Property
Acquisition
Mr. Post stated that the Township has been in discussions
with the County relative to the acquisition of the Pelio property on
NEW BUSINESS
Approve Blue Light
Application – Susan A. Schlesinger
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and
carried by favorable roll call vote, the
Township Committee approved
a Blue Light Application for Susan A. Schlesinger.
Request to Close Friday,
December 26, 2008 and Friday January 2, 2009
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee authorized the Municipal Office and Department of Public Works to be closed on Friday, December 26, 2008 and Friday, January 2, 2009. All employees are to use their personal time for the days off.
Municipal Court Meeting –
Saturday December 6, 2008 at 8:30 A.M.
The
Municipal Court of North Hunterdon will be holding a Court meeting on Saturday,
December 6, 2008. Mayor Piazza will be
away and unable to attend on behalf of the Township. Mr. Morrison will attend in place of Mayor
Piazza and report back to the Committee.
PRESENTATION OF
VOUCHERS
Committee Members provided a description of vouchers exceeding $1,000.00.
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee approved the December 3, 2008 bill list in the amount of $120,303.84.
CORRESPONDENCE
Tax Collector’s Report for
the Month of October 2008
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee opened the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
Mr. Al Nagie asked inquired on the proposed purchase price for the Pelio property.
Mr. John Slusher, Hunterdon Review, asked how much the County had committed to contribute to the Pelio Acquisition.
Motion by Ms. Schriver, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote, the Township Committee closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting.
Having no further business to come before the Committee, a motion was made by Ms. Schriver seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by unanimous favorable roll call vote to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________
Karen J. Sandorse, RMC/CMC
Municipal Clerk
Approved: December 17, 2008 _____________________________
Edward Post, Deputy Mayor