PITTSGROVE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 11, 2005
The Pittsgrove Township Committee met in the Meeting Room on October 11, 2005, Mayor Peter I. Voros presided. Committee members present were Jeffrey T. Ridgway, Sr., Linda A. DuBois, Christine L. Seeney and Kenneth P. Martin.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL
Mayor Voros opened the meeting with a salute to the flag and reading of the Open Public Meetings Act.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by DuBois, the minutes of the September 27, 2005 Regular Meeting and Executive Session were approved as submitted.
Vote: All in favor
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
On a motion by Martin and seconded by DuBois, the following Departmental Reports and Other (Minutes) were accepted as submitted.
Vote: All in favor
Departmental Reports - Tax Assessor (07/05, 08/05, 09/05)
Other (Minutes) - Recreation Advisory Committee (09/05)
Salem County Emergency Services (09/05)
STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS BY MAYOR
Mayor Voros announced current appointments to each Standing Committee as follows:
Administration & Personnel - Seeney/Voros
Community Affairs & Public Relations - DuBois/Seeney
Economic Development - DuBois/Seeney
Emergency Management, Fire & Lighting - DuBois/Ridgway
Finance - Martin/Voros
Interlocal & Shared Services - DuBois
Ordinance Review & Legislative - Seeney/Ridgway
Recreation & Open Space - Ridgway/DuBois
Roads & Township Facilities Maintenance - Ridgway/Voros
Shade Tree - Seeney
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS
ADMINISTRATION & PERSONNEL (Seeney/Voros)
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by Martin, RESOLUTION NO. 2005-141 Appointing An Assistant Building Inspector For The Township Of Pittsgrove was approved as read.
Vote: All in favor
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS & PUBLIC RELATIONS (DuBois/Seeney)
Committeewoman DuBois reported that each fire district has planned something for Fire Prevention Week. She also advised that the Township Administrator has requested that Department Heads and Boards/Committees submit articles for the next newsletter.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (DuBois/Seeney)
Committeewoman DuBois advised that the last Economic Development Committee Meeting went well and the committee is moving forward.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, FIRE & LIGHTING (DuBois/Ridgway)
Committeewoman DuBois reminded everyone of the Public Meeting to be held by Emergency Management on October 18, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building.
FINANCE (Martin/Voros)
On a motion by Martin and seconded by Ridgway, RESOLUTION NO. 2005-142 Payment Of Bills was approved as submitted with the addition of supplemental payments to the three fire districts in the amounts of $1,377.00 each.
Vote: All in favor
INTERLOCAL & SHARED SERVICES (DuBois) - No business.
ORDINANCE REVIEW & LEGISLATIVE (Seeney/Ridgway)
On a motion by Martin and seconded by Ridgway, “An Ordinance To Prohibit Illicit Connections To The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Operated By The Township Of Pittsgrove” was approved on first reading. The second reading and public hearing will be held on October 25, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey afterwhich the ordinance will be considered for final passage.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Martin and seconded by DuBois, “An Ordinance To Prohibit The Spilling Dumping Or Disposal Of Materials Other Than Stormwater To The Township Of Pittsgrove Storm Sewer System” was approved on first reading. The second reading and public hearing will be held on October 25, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey afterwhich the ordinance will be considered for final passage.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by Martin, “An Ordinance To Establish Requirements To Control Littering In The Township Of Pittsgrove” was approved on first reading. The second reading and public hearing will be held on October 25, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey afterwhich the ordinance will be considered for final passage.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by Martin, “An Ordinance To Establish Requirements For The Proper Disposal Of Pet Solid Waste In The Township Of Pittsgrove” was approved on first reading. The second reading and public hearing will be held on October 25, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey afterwhich the ordinance will be considered for final passage.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by DuBois and seconded by Ridgway, “An Ordinance To Prohibit The Feeding Of Unconfined Wildlife On Property Owned By The Township Of Pittsgrove” was approved on first reading. The second reading and public hearing will be held on October 25, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey afterwhich the ordinance will be considered for final passage.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by Seeney, An Ordinance To Establish A Year Waste Disposal Program And To Establish Requirements For The Proper Handling Of Yard Waste In The Township Of Pittsgrove” was approved on first reading. The second reading and public hearing will be held on October 24, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 989 Centerton Road, Pittsgrove, New Jersey afterwhich the ordinance will be considered for final passage.
Vote: All in favor
RECREATION & OPEN SPACE (Ridgway/DuBois)
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by DuBois, the request from Daytop Facility to use the football playing field at Green Branch Park was approved on condition that games conflicting with the previously approved dates requested by the Pittsgrove Midget Football be rescheduled.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by DuBois, the request from Joan Dahl to use Deer Pen Park (pavilion/gazebo) for a wedding on November 26, 2005 was approved.
Vote: All in favor
Committeeman Ridgway acknowledged the receipt of a letter the Township Administrator sent to Brian Dean regarding the use of soccer fields at Green Branch Park. A representative from the Green Acres Program has been contacted and efforts are being made to resolve the matter regarding use which also involves the Pittsgrove Soccer Club.
ROADS & TOWNSHIP FACILITIES MAINTENANCE (Ridgway/Voros)
On a motion by DuBois and seconded by Ridgway, RESOLUTION NO. 2005-143 “Supports Renewal Of The New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund And Increased Dedication To Local Aid” was approved as read.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by Seeney, RESOLUTION NO. 2005-144 “Issuing Change Order Number CO-02 To The Contract To Provide An Addition And Renovations To The Pittsgrove Township Senior Center” was approved as read.
Vote: Aye - Ridgway, Seeney, Martin, Voros
Nay - DuBois
Committeeman Ridgway announced that the Township was awarded $125,000.00 by the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the Fiscal Year 2006 Municipal Aid Program for Christian Drive.
SHADE TREE (Seeney) - No business.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
On a motion by DuBois and seconded by Ridgway, RESOLUTION NO. 2005-145 “Declaring Improvements Complete and Authorizing Release Of Performance Guarantee - Country Road Bible Church” was approved as read.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by DuBois and seconded by Ridgway, the November 8, 2005 Regular Meeting of the Pittsgrove Township Committee was cancelled due to a conflict with the General Election. The meeting was rescheduled and will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Municipal Building.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Ridgway and seconded by Martin, the Township Solicitor was authorized to look into and prepare an ordinance prohibiting any sexual offender registered under Megan’s Law, whose victim was under the age of 18, to live within 1000 feet of a school.
Vote: All in favor
CORRESPONDENCE
Committeewoman DuBois announced that the Township will receive $17,872.52 for its 2006 in-lieu-of tax payment for state and non-profit owned open space.
On a motion by Seeney and seconded by Ridgway, the Township Clerk is to prepare and forward a letter to I.E. DuPont reaffirming the concerns of the Township Committee regarding the safe transport of waste to its facility and dumping of the treated water in the Delaware Bay.
Vote: All in favor
Committeewoman DuBois announced that the Clean Communities & Recycling Coordinator gave the Norma Mennonite Church book covers and rulers displaying the “Township of Pittsgrove” to be included in school packages being sent to the children affected by the flood and Hurricane Katrina. She also reminded other members that the next Salem County Association of Local Government Meeting will be held on October 27, 2005 at Appel Farm.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Marcelline Eachus, Pittsgrove, commented that she too is concerned about the transport of phosphorus acid and disposal of the bi-product by E.I. DuPont as mentioned under correspondence. Mrs. Eachus inquired about the status of ideas that resulted from public input received at a meeting held some time ago that Dennis Miranda of Go Native! attended. She thought that action would occur, in the form of ordinances, on some of the items. The Mayor responded that the meeting she referred to was held in connection with the Open Space Plan and asked Herb Wegner, who was in attendance, to respond.
Herbert Wegner, Pittsgrove, responded that the recommendations resulting from the meeting on the Open Space Plan could be found on the township website www.pittsgrovetownship.com. He went on to say that the Environmental Commission will propose ordinances to the Township regarding setbacks from streams and clustering in agricultural areas and that they spoke to Mr. Miranda about ordinances involving environmental issues. He advised that the Environmental Commission now reviews Planning Board applications; that Green Acres is going forth with an appraisal of Running Deer Golf Club to deed restrict the property; and that settlement on the Dixon property occurred.
Valerie Nagy, Pittsgrove, wanted to make sure she understood about the golf course Mr. Wegner mentioned and to confirm that it will not cost as much to deed restrict the property. She reminded the Township Committee that Dennis Miranda mentioned that a municipality could zone an area “golf course” which could not be developed or one house could be permitted per 20 or 30 acres. Committeeman Martin recollected that this was considered in connection with development regulation changes, but that the Township could not spot zone. Mrs. Nagy commented that there may have been some changes regarding legislation on the matter since then. Mrs. Nagy is aware that the Master Plan is required to be re-examined and asked if that would occur next year. She suggested that the public input obtained at the meeting on the Open Space Plan be reviewed in connection with the Master Plan Re-examination. Mrs. Nagy also asked that copies of ordinances introduced by the Township Committee be made available to the public at that same meeting and that the Master Plan be put on the township website. Mrs. Nagy then inquired about the compliance of farm assessed properties and Mayor Voros responded, informing her about the process.
There being no other comments from the public, a motion was made by Martin and seconded by Seeney to close the audience participation segment.
Vote: All in favor
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion by Martin and seconded by Ridgway, RESOLUTION NO. 2005-146 Resolution Authorizing Executive Session to discuss the acquisition of real property was approved as read.
Vote: All in favor
Minutes of the Executive Session will be made available for public review with respect to matters involving litigation after said litigation has been resolved and all periods of appeal have expired and with respect to other matters within ninety (90) days.
On a motion by DuBois and seconded by Martin, the meeting was reopened to the public.
Vote: All in favor
On a motion by Martin and seconded by Seeney, the Township Administrator was authorized to obtain an appraisal of the Garrison property.
Vote: All in favor
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Ridgway and seconded by DuBois.
Vote: All in favor
Constance S. Garton
Township Clerk