Meeting of Mayor and Council
MINUTES - FEBRUARY 15, 2017
MEETING OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL
7:00 PM
* MEETING CALLED TO ORDER – SALUTE TO THE FLAG -MOMENT OF SILENCE
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Chris Slavicek. He asked everyone to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence for our men and women serving and whom have served in the military protecting our freedom.
* CALLING OF THE ROLL All were in attendance
Mayor Slavicek
Councilman Karczewski
Councilman Dzingleski
Councilwoman Carolan-Genthe
Councilman Peckham
Councilman Perez
Councilman Reid
Also in attendance:
Borough Administrator Matthew Crane
Borough Attorney Joseph Youssouf
* OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT STATEMENT
Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as is required under Chapter 231 Public Law 1975 specifying the time, date, location and to the extent known the agenda by posting a copy on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building outside of the meeting room and providing a copy to the Home News Tribune and Sentinel newspapers and by filing a copy in the office of the Municipal Clerk in accordance with the certification which will be entered in the minutes of this meeting.
A representative from Verizon came and spoke about the maintenance of poles in the public right-of-way pursuant to which Verizon Wireless may use such poles erected within the public right-of- way in the Borough of Helmetta.
*HEARING ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
Mayor Chris Slavicek opened the hearing on the Community Development Block Grant. An explanation of the program was given. The meeting was opened to the Public; however no one from the Public wanted to speak. The meeting was closed to the Public and discussion ensued amongst the Council. Upon the recommendation of the committee the grant should be used for electrical power to Helm Mill Park Pavilion from the main power source (JCP&L Electric), install lighting fixtures and electrical outlets on the pavilion, and bring water service to the pavilion from the Borough’s water main.
Resolution #2017-54 MiddlesexCounty Community Development Block Grant
Project
MOTION – Councilman Karczewski SECOND – Councilman Reid
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
* PUBLIC PORTION
During the Public Portion of any Council Meeting members of the Public may only speak on topics of concern to the residents of the Borough. Each individual will be given five minutes to speak as per the Rules to Govern adopted January 4, 2017. During the Public potion of any meeting, the members of the Public as well as the Governing Body shall be courteous and respectful to one another. No comments and/or behavior that are considered disrespectful, ill-willed or with the intent to harass will be tolerated. If such behavior occurs, then that individual member of the Public will be asked to sit down and his or her turn to speak will be over, even if the five minutes is not.
Joseph Kotora, Fire Marshal and Code Enforcer asked the Council to reopen and reconsider adopting the ordinance on rental properties. The policy was taken from Sayreville. It is a safety issue for him. The consensus was that the ordinance should be revisited and will be brought up at our next meeting.
John Nartowicz. 2 Holly Manor Court stated that the minutes weren’t posted. He was told they cannot be posted until they are approved. He asked when the 2017 Budget will be posted. He was told the budget will be introduced at the March meeting and hopefully adopted at the April meeting. He discussed shared services for the Police Department and suggested a RFP be done so we would know what savings there would be.
* CONSENT AGENDA - RESOLUTON #2017 - 60
Report of Municipal Clerk, Utility Revenue Collector
Resolutions:
2017 – 53 – Verizon Wireless (tabled)
55 – Transfer of Appropriation Reserves
56 – Resolution Approving 2017 Temporary Emergency Budget Appropriations
57 – Payment of bills
58 – Resolution cancelling various unexpended reserves as of December 31, 2016
59 – Authorization for Remington, Vernick & Vena to design 2017 Helmetta Road Project – Old Forge Road
#53 and 56 were tabled pulled from the agenda
#53 – Verizon Wireless was tabled.
#56 – Spotswood Sanitation should be $2500.00 not $2000.00
A MOTION to accept this change was made by Councilwoman Carola Genthe
And SECONDED by Councilman Peckham ROL CALL: 6 – 0
A MOTION to adopt the Consent Agenda was made by Councilman Karczewski and
SECONDED by Councilman Reid. ROLL CALL: 6 - 0
*APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
January 4, 2017
MOTION – Councilman Karczewski Councilman Peckham
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
January 18, 2017
MOTION – Councilman Karczewski SECOND – Councilman Reid
ROLL CALL: 4 – 0 - 2 (Peckham & Perez were absent from meeting.)
* REPORT OF MAYOR, COMMITTEES, BOROUGH ATTORNEY,
BOROUGH ENGINEER, PUBLIC WORKS
Councilman Dzingleski stated that plans are being made for the baseball trip and he is
returning his stipend to pay for the tickets.
Councilman Reid reported that the Garden Club will use the dog runs to start their
Plantings. The Boy Scouts will make the beds
Councilman Peckham asked if the Community Center has been rented. Mayor Slavicek said that a few times it has been. Councilman Peckham asked that a monthly report be given as to what is happening.
Councilwoman Carolan-Genthe suggested that perhaps we could have a lawn of the month contest.
Councilman Perez said that two finance meetings have been cancelled. Progress is being made with the budget.
Mayor Slavicek said that there were a few complaints during the snow storm. There were some minor breakdowns with the truck. One complaint was that the DPW workers were driving around but the Mayor said that he knows for a fact that they were shoveling around the building.
Councilwoman Carolan-Genthe reported that Dr. Rocco, Superintendent of Schools, has resigned and on May 7th he will be going to Hamilton. No interviews have been set. A Superintendent’s Forum was held regarding PARCC testing. She attended a MiddlesexCounty and Health and Wellness meeting. They hope to hold a Rutgers Day They are planning a Mayors Walk with their townspeople. They also discussed pet wellness, CPR and holistic medicine.
The Borough Attorney and Borough Administrator had no reports
* SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE #2017 – 1
An Ordinance to exceed the Municipal Budget Appropriation limits and establish a Cap
Bank (N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14) in the Borough of Helmetta, County of Middlesex, State
of New Jersey
This ordinance was opened to the Public. There being no one who wished to speak, this
ordinance was closed to the Public.
MOTION to adopt: Councilman Karczewski SECOND – Councilman Peckham
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
* FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2017 -2
Capital Ordinance amending in part Capital Ordinance No. 2016-2 adopted on July 21, 2016 and providing for various Capital Improvements and the acquisition of various Capital Equipment, in order to amend the purpose thereof, authorized in and by the Borough of Helmetta in the County of Middlesex, New Jersey
MOTION - Councilman Karczewski SECOND – Councilman Reid
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
ORDINANCE# 2017 – 3
An Ordinance amending Chapter 55-43 Schedule XVI: Parking during snow removal and other emergencies
MOTION to adopt: Councilman Karczewski SECOND – Councilman Peckham
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
* CLOSED SESSION – RESOLUTION # 63 Contract Negotiations
MOTION – Councilman Peckham SECOND – Councilman Reid
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
A MOTION to go into OPEN SESSION was made by Councilman Peckham and SECONDED by Councilman Reid. All were in favor.
RESOLUTION #2017 – 61
AGREEMENT FOR DISPATCH SERVICES BETWEEN THE BOROUGH OF HELMETTA AND THE BOROUGH OF SPOTSWOOD
MOTION – Councilman KarczewskiSECOND – Councilman Reid
ROLL CALL: 6 - 0
RESOLUTION #2017 – 62
AGREEMENT FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES BETWEEN THE BOROUGH OF HELMETTA AND THE BOROUGH OF SPOTSWOOD
MOTION – Councilman PeckhamSECOND – Councilwoman Carolan-Genthe
ROLL CALL: 6 – 0
* ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business a MOTION was made by Councilman Peckham and SECONDED by Councilwoman Carolan-Genthe to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. All were in favor.