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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1999/12/09 The Agenda Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret preceding the Regular Meeting December 16, 1999 was held on December 9, 1999, 7:00 P.M., Municipal Court, Police Facility, 230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey. The Following were noted present: Mayor Failace Councilmember Gutowski H Mancuso " O'Brien " Quinones Also noted present Borough Attorney Craig Coughlin Noted absent Councilmembers Crilley and Fazekas. Mailed to the Home New Tribune, The Star Ledger and posted on the Bulletin Board on December 3, 1999. a. Borough Engineer - MUNICIPAL PROJECTS: 1. Al Beninato from Killam and Associates gave this report. He spoke on the Library/ Senior Community Center Project. He stated they have been working with the Architect and Contractors in efforts to expedite the completion of the project. He said they anticipate completing a site inspection of all site related work and preparing a punch list for the Contractor next week. Mayor Failace stated John DuPont also prepared something after looking at the area. He said he told Mr. DuPont to send Al a copy. At approximately 7:10 P.M., Councilmember Fazekas was noted present. 2. Borough Hall Boiler Replacement - Al reported his office has assisted the Borough in selecting and coordinating the efforts with the Asbestos Abatement Contractor which is required as part of the replacement of the steam boiler in Borough Hall. It is anticipated that the new boiler will be installed, tested and in operation the week of December 13th. 3. Re-roofing of Fire Department and Police Headquarters - Contract No. 98-6 - Al reported a letter was written to Barrett Roofs, Inc. regarding the closeout of the above project which includes the submission of the required Maintenance Bond and Roofing Warranty from the Contractor. He said since the Contractor has not responded to several letters, the Bonding Company was also copied. He said if the Contractor does not respond by next week, they will pursue the matter further with the Bonding Company. b. Al Beninato then spoke on SEWER FACILITIES: 1. Bergen Street and Hayward Avenue Pump Stations - Al reported the changed order approved at the last Council Meeting would DECEMBER 9, 1999 AGENDA MEETI NG DECEMBER 9, 1999 PRESENT STATEMENT OF MEETI NG NOTI CE BOROUGH ENGINEER MUNICIPAL PROJECTS NOTED PRESENT BOROUGH HALL BOILER REPLACEMENT REROOFING OF FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE HEADQUARTERS SEWER FACILITIES DECEMBER 9, 1999 SEWER FACILITIES (CONTINUED) I?I &ICI PROGRAM ANNUAL EMERGENCY SERVICE AND MAINTAINCE CONTRACT permit the Contractors to complete the rehabilitation of the two existing pumps. He said one of these pumps would replace the rental pump currently in operation at Hayward Avenue. He said in the interim, the pump rental fee quoted by the Contractor is $125/week or $375/month. An invoice from P & H has been received for the emergency repair and rental pump installation, which upon review by his office shall be forwarded to the Borough for review and approval. He stated when mobilized in the wet well of the Hayward Station, the Contractor indicated that the two existing plug valves are seized in the open position and do not operate. He stated the check valves are being impeded by debris or grease buildup which does not allow them to open fully. He stated his office has requested cost information from the Contractor for replacement of valves, for installation of, emergency bypass which will permit the installation of the new valves and will allow a convenient connection to the station and reduce the cost associated with a submersible bypass system on future repairs. He said he is still awaiting prices for this work which will be presented to the Borough for review and consideration prior to the next Council Meeting. 2. Illegal Connection Identification & III Reduction Program (ICI &III Program) - Al reported his office has identified the appropriate locations for installing flow meters in the Borough's sanitary sewer system in an effort to begin to isolate specific service areas that are contributing to the inflow/infiltration in the Borough. He said his office has completed the installation of nineteen (19) meters in various sections of the Borough. He said he anticipate metering for another 4 to 5 weeks to obtain dry and wet weather flow data from the meters which will be used to better concentrate their efforts on specific subareas. He said in addition his office is moving forward with Phase IE which includes further internal investigation of the sewers within the identified "suspect areas". He stated he would also like to add a letter he just received today, which is relative to the administrative consent order. He said the initial part of the letter commends the Borough for its continued efforts relative to identification of suspect areas and continuation of the program. He said they do however want to stress the importance of continuing with the program, to investigate the suspect areas and correct any further deficiencies in the system that may exist. He stated they want to be present for some of that field investigation. Unidentified voice asked are they sending the Borough any money? Borough Engineer Al stated that was not a part of the letter. He said the letter was from the compliance department and they are very reluctant to even consider the monetary issues as a concern. 3. Annual Emergency Service and Maintenance Contract - Al reported his office has been coordinating and inspecting work being performed by LBD Contracting who is in the process of repairing the damaged storm sewer and installing new storm inlets on Herman Avenue between Linden and Whittier Street. He said upon completion of the repairs, LBD would be responsible for final pavement restoration at all repair locations. 2 Mayor Failace asked Al what is the time frame for Herman Avenue because he has already received a lot of calls on that. Borough Engineer Al stated what was initially done on that, roadway was the reconnection of sanitary sewer .. . (inaudible). He stated currently approximately 30 - 35 feet of storm sewers are being replaced which were identified as being in failure. He said his office has been aware through comments of some of the residence of that area that they have had problems in driveways, sidewalks and other locations. He said what his office has made an effort to do is to identify whether any of those conditions are the result of any of the utility ...(inaudible)... something needs to be done in the street to address problems that are effecting the curb, sidewalk, and driveway, this work can be accomplished before they pave the roadway. He said he thinks the problem that exist in that area as well as some other streets in the Borough where the Noe Creek was filled in many years ago, the various materials that were used to back fill and fill in the creek area. He said it might be a combination of either decaying materials or consolidation of materials that may be causing some of the settlement in some areas. He said where it is really beyond the control of the scope of this project, identifying the extent of it and a remedy for some of those areas. He said it can be seen that some of the sidewalks and some of the home properties.. . (inaudible). .. Councilmember Mancuso stated at the end of Herman where it is not paved when going up the hill is where Mr. Surick's crew has been filling in areas like this. He said it is not that pavement is off the road it is that it looks like it is collapsing and they just keep filling it in. He said he had spoken to Eric and he is not sure if anyone check it out. Borough Engineer AI's response is mostly inaudible. He basically stated the reasoning for why the area Councilmember Mancuso spoke of looks the way that it does. He stated his office has been dealing with the Contractor with regards to the problem 4. Linden Street - Sewer Separation Project Phase II - Al stated the Contractor has re-mobilized along Linden Street between Washington Avenue and Carteret Avenue to correct the low spots in the pavement, which resulted in ponding of water. He stated he is currently communicating with the Contractor regarding the driveway access issues along the East Side of the street. c. Al Beninato then spoke on ROADS PROJECTS: 1. Improvements to Industrial Road (Phase I) - Contract No. 980- 12 & Improvements to Louis Street and Fillmore Avenue - Contract No. 99-11 - Al reported Tarheel Enterprise, the Contractor for both of the above referenced contracts, has completed some of the corrective work along Louis Street eliminate the ponding water conditions. He said they have yet to re-mobilize to complete the balance of corrective work and the pavement improvements along Fillmore Avenue, Barlik Street and State Street which was scheduled for this week. He said the paving portion of the Industrial Road project is complete with the exception of some paving work towards the southern end ofIndustrial Road. It is anticipated that the guard rail repairs and final punch list items shall be completed within the next several weeks. 3 DECEMBER 9, 1999 ANNUAL EMERGENCY SERVICE AND MAINTANCE CONTRACT (CONTI NUED) LI NDEN STREET ROADS PROJECTS IMPROVEMENTS TO INDUSTRIAL ROAD IECEMBER g, 1999 1UNICIPAL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS JROJECTS 2. Municipal Road Improvements Projects - Contract No. 98-8 (Tennyson Street) - Al reported after numerous attempts to coordinate with the Contractor, a letter was sent to the Bonding Company for Straight Curb Corporation regarding the unacceptable pavement conditions on Tennyson Street. He stated his office shall coordinate with the Bonding Company to resolve this outstanding issue. Mayor Failace stated he feels Al and himself should sit down with the Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack and Tax Assessor Patrick DeBlasio and get a real good handle on what is needed in the sewer budget to continue the work. He stated regardless of what happens with whatever is done down the road if in fact the town does go with privatization, because he is not sure the $1,000,000.00 that is being talked about is going to be enough to continue with what needs to be done on the time line that was given to DEP. Borough Engineer Al stated there are certain cost that can be anticipated at this time that are relative to the continuation of the illegal connections work that is required by DEP. He said .. .(inaudible)... and he will give Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack a call to set up a meeting and put together a budget. Mayor Failace asked if in the letter from the DEP where they commended the town did they say that they have abated the fine. Borough Engineer Al stated DEP indicated that administrative order was still in effect. He said the letter also stated that if in fact the town does not proceed accordingly an additional fine would in fact be added. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL ORDINANCES, PUBLI C HEAR I NG Minutes for approval - December 2, 2001. Public Hearing - #99-35 Appropriating $75,000 from Sewer Improvements Reserve, Re: Evaluation of Sewer System - Privatization. #99-36 Amending Salary Ordinance #71-9, Re: School Traffic Guards. #99-37 Approving Revised and Amended Zoning Map Amending Section 161-121 of the Code of the Borough ofCarteret. RESOLUTIONS Directing the Issuance of Various Bingo Licenses. Directing the Issuance of Various Raffle Licenses. Refund of Tax and/or Sewer Fee Overpayments. Providing for the Transfer of Surplus Funds. Amending Short Term Disability Payments for the Year 2000. Authorizing Certain Legal, Auditing and Engineer Services III Connection with Possible Privatization of Borough's Sewer System. Authorizing Payment to Various Contractors performing Rehabilitation of Homes Pursuant to COAH. 4 Cancellation of 1999 Appropriations. Certifying Robert Talalai - Police Lieutenant. Certifying Daniel Tarrant - Police Lieutenant. Mayor Failace stated before the meeting goes any further he forgot Tony Neibert was there to speak with the Council. Construction Official Tony Neibert gave everybody a copy of the Land Development Ordinance. He stated in the past few months there have been problems with a specific ordinance which deals primarily with land development. He said the problem is actually on two fronts, one is land development and the other he said can be called a quality oflife issue. He said he spoke with Borough Attorney Craig Coughlin about it and they came up to some agreement and he did some research on it. He said what his office has done is scanned in a copy of the original ordinance on the top. He said he is most interested in section B 160- 119 of the copy he handed them. He then read the section of the ordinance he was speaking of: "No front yard shall be used for open storage boats, vehicles or any other equipment, including parking on driveways, except in the instance of a maximum twelve-foot- wide driveway directly leading to a garage, carport, etc.," He said that first statement is causing a major problem because... (inaudible)... of how it has been interpreted by the Zoning Board this means if there is no garage or a car port in the Borough of Carteret then a driveway can not be put in. He said it is somewhat contradictory because more street parking needs to be applied. He said it also leaves a problem were people who wish to convert there garage into a family room, or etc., now the garage is eliminated and a driveway is left and the person has created their own hardship. He said his office has had few cases before the Board. He said the Board has granted approval to those particular people but obviously, it has been a problem with contentions. He said going on with the ordinance:" for the parking of a passenger vehicle." He said over the last three months there have been five complaints three anonymous, two with names throughout various sections of the Borough where people or individuals in the trucking business are taking there large vehicles (large tractors) and parking them in the driveway. He said from what he has gathered from these complaints are the people do not particularly care about the parking but however at 3-4:00a.m. when a diesel engine needs to be started up it is a problem. He said what his office has tried to do is revise section B of the ordinance and asked the Council to refer to the hand out: "No front yard shall be used for storage of boats, vehicles or any other equipment, including parking on driveways, except in the instance of a maximum 12 foot wide driveway for the parking of registered motor vehicles not exceeding 8 tons." He said his office came up with the 8 tons by checking with some of the garages and this was the general feeling. He said if a weight were not put in, such as in the existing ordinance, it just says passenger vehicles, which could include a van dump truck would be illegal. He said the main problem is not only that but the parking of these large trucks in the driveways being started up at 3-4:00 in the morning. He said restricting them to a certain extent.. .(inaudible)... quality of life issue, he said he does not 5 DECEMBER 9, 1999 RESOLUTI ONS (CONTI NUED) COMMENTS CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL TONY NEIBERT DECEMBER 9, 1999 CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL TONY NEIBERT (CONTINUED) really have an answer. He said his office has explored with the Department of Public Works about possibly compounding possibilities. Councilmember Mancuso stated trucks do not have passenger vehicle plates on them, so they are not considered a passenger vehicle. Construction Official Tony Neibert said he believes when talking about passenger vehicles with definitions there is a difference in .. .(inaudible)... Councilmember Mancuso said it has a commercial license plate not a passenger vehicle license plate. Borough Attorney Craig Coughlin stated he thinks the concern was the legitimate problem people have with tractor trailer trucks being in the driveway next door with the fact that there are any number of people that may drive vans which is more acceptable. Councilmember Mancuso said he understands that but if the word truck is going to be used then there are pick up trucks that have commercial plates on them then they are in the same category as the bigger trucks. Construction Official Tony Neibert stated the reason why he said passenger vehicle is because the definition of a passenger vehicle states it is a vehicle with no more the two axles, with four wheels, not more then 4500 pounds in gross weight and it is designed primarily for transportation of persons. Borough Attorney stated this was also discussed in the context of the fact not many of the streets are light traffic streets. Construction Official Tony said section 224 in the code is a restriction that needs to be (boosted up). He said truck traffic is restricted on certain streets in the Borough however he said it is very limited. Councilmember Mancuso asked if there was a city ordinance that stated no commercial vehicles are to be parked in driveways. Construction Official Tony said the ordinance he read is tlJe only ordinance that deals with this. Unidentified voice said he thought the ordinance said commercial vehicles could not be parked on the street. Mayor James Failace stated to Councilmember Mancuso that he thinks it was vice versa. He said there were some people parking the buses near street corners and drivers could not see around them. He said he thought they were told they would have to park in the driveways. He said he may be wrong, he will have to look that up himself, and Tony would know better them him anyway. Construction Official Tony said the other problem is the building aspect of it. He said obviously, there are a lot of rejections when people want to take their garage and turn it into a rec. room or something. He said his office could not allow people to do without 6 going through a.. . (inaudible).. . and a lot of people do not want to pay the extra money (about $225.00) for that fee because of hardship. He said it is done because throughout the Borough there are situations where the driveways do not have garages. He said this is the spark of what he is going to attempt to do in the year 2000. He said his office wanted to put a committee together to get rid of some of those and to revamp ...(inaudible)... Mayor Failace asked Tony by doing this he is saying it will keep these large cabs out of the driveways but allow some of the larger vans into the driveway. Construction Official Tony said it would allow two things. He said on it would allow individuals who wish to convert those rooms or wish to put a driveway in, but it will limit the size of the vehicle to extend the quality of life. He said what his office intends to do if the Council is in agreement with this, is to bring it to the next Planning Board meeting and go through the procedure. He said at the time of passage what he would like to do is send those five individuals, who have those tractors parts a letter. He said the letter would tell them exactly what is going to be done along with the new ordinance. He said this in turn would give them prior notice rather then sending them a violation or summons. Mayor Failace asked ifthose tractors could be parked on the street. Construction Official Tony said he thinks it becomes an issue with the Police Department as far as the vehicles weight. He said he thinks ordinance 224 deals with the weight of the vehicle. Mayor Failace stated what he is asking is does it then become ok for the tractors to park on the streets. Borough Attorney Craig Coughlin stated he had spoke with Tony about this in terms of recognizing the fact there is a legitimate need for people to park their tractor trailer trucks because that is the way they make their living. He said he had spoken to Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack about the possibility of finding a place in the Borough that would allow people to compound. The garage area is locked every night and they probably would not want to do that, but he and Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack are going to try and find a solution. Construction Official Tony Neibert said he is pretty sure the Council knows large tractor-trailers are pretty expensive equipment and he said he does not think the owners of these tractor trailers would want to just park them somewhere that would not be somewhat secure. Mayor Failace stated the Council would just look into the liability part of it. Unidentified man asked if this was under the Land Development section. Construction Official Tony Neibert said yes Land Development 160 and 119. DECEMBER 9, 1999 CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL TONY NEIBERT (CONTINUED) 7 IECEMBER g, 1999 'RANSCR I BER' S IOTES :ONSTRUCT I ON )FFICIAL 'ONY NE I BERT : CONTI NUED) There is a conversation they are asking a question but it is inaudible to the transcriber. Construction Official Tony Neibert said it would be enforcement, so if someone did put a 15 ton gross vehicle weight in the driveway then obviously it would be a violation of 160: 119B Borough Attorney Craig Coughlin said he felt it should be included in the parking section. Construction Official Tony Neibert said obviously the ordinance addresses the fact of putting any type of vehicle, boat or whatever it is and storing them in the front yard. Mayor Failace asked if the Council had to do this or does it go to the Planning Board first and then back to the Council. Construction Official Tony Neibert stated traditionally what they do is if it is land use it is recommended to the Planning Board and the Planning Board then recommends to the Mayor and Council. He said he wanted to make the Council aware of this and that there is a problem. He said he thinks it is a multifaceted problem, which involves the Police Department, his office, and obviously some of the conditions in the Borough. Mayor Failace asked Tony if there was something that said people can not park on the front lawns. Construction Official Tony Neibert said yes that is 161: 119 section A.B. addresses that. IPPLICATIONS Knights of Columbus - RL#1577 by changing benefit fund. :OMMUN I CA TI ONS NJ Division of Solid Waste Management - Public Hearing, December 16,1999 - New Brunswick, Re: Administrative Action to County's Solid Waste Plan - Rapid Transfer Station, Middlesex, NJ. Bell Atlantic - Notice of Public Hearing (12/15/99) and Written Comment Period 1/10/00), Re: Area Code Relief in the 201/973 and 908/732 areas. :EPORTS Inspection of Buildings - November 1999. Sewage Collection System - November 1999. . IATTERS FOR I SCUSSON EPARTMENT OF 'ERSONNEL Department of Personnel- Notice of Promotion Examination, Re: Fire Captain. Do not want a test. 8 Bid Award - Holmatro Tool. Borough Clerk stated there was only one bid, Gloria has it, and they recommended awarding it. Mayor Failace said ok, and asks how much was it. Borough Clerk said she thought it was about $15-18,000.00 Carteret Office for the Disabled - they are questioning about their move to tlJe library and about their schedule with meetings. Mayor Failace said he got that letter. He asked Borough Clerk if the Office of the Disabled could put out their schedule and then amend the schedule when they move. Borough Clerk said yes. Mayor Failace said he would advise them to put it out because they probably will not move until about February. He said the Board of Disabled will be moved into a room off to the side and he hopes it will be big enough for them. He said he talked to Jeff Pino and he will give them some storage space if they need it. Michael Majur - Personnel matter will discuss in Closed Session PBA - Requesting promotion of 2 sergeants to the position of lieutenant. Mayor Failace said he certainly does not feel there is a need for two more lieutenants BUSINESS TO BE ADDED Councilmember Fazekas spoke saying there was a meeting about three weeks ago with the Volunteers and they were going over the 2000 budget. He said he had talked to the Chief Financial Officer Patrick DeBlasio, they need another 15 sets of turn out gear which is about $1000.00 a piece. He said Patrick was going to look around to see if this was possible. He said he just wanted to let the Mayor and Council know. Mayor Failace asked if Patrick was looking to see what was available for next year. He said Patrick should be looking to see what is left over from this year (1999). Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack stated the fact is that the request came in late, plus there is additional request for other pieces of equipment which exceeds the amount that was initially requested as far as a transfer of $40,000.00. He said he was not sure the Volunteers would need 15 sets of turn out gear. Councilmember Fazekas said he has Brian O'Connor checking to see if they need 15 sets of turn out gear. Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack stated Brain also called him today saying that the Volunteers put in an additional request for other equipment today. Councilmember Fazekas said he told Brian to get a hold of the Volunteers see what they could do. He said as for the turn out gear a lot of it gets patched and cleaned but they usually buy maybe 5-8 a year with the CD Funds. He thinks it just happened this year is an exception and if the Council could find the funds to get it for this year then great. Mayor Failace said what else are they asking for. DECEMBER 9, 1999 MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION CONTI NUED BID AWARD HOLMATRO TOOL OFFICE FOR DISABLED MICHAEL MAJUR PBA BUSINESS TO BE ADDED VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT TURN OUT GEAR 9 ECEMBER 9, 1999 'OLUNTEER FIRE URN OUT GEAR CONTINUED) Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack stated that Brian called him up and stated there were additional requests for other equipment... Borough Clerk Kathleen M. Barney stated they requested pagers and mobile radios. Councilmember Fazekas said Brain could on his budget work with getting those pagers. He said he told him to sit down, get the Chief, and discuss this. Mayor Failace said if there is a need for it he has no objections to getting them the only thing he has an objection to is the fact they requested tlJis almost at the end of the year. Councilmember Fazekas said he agrees with the Mayor. He said it is just late. He said he had talked with the Volunteers about the turn out gear and they were supposed to check and see if the equipment could be purchased through the CD Funds but evidently it would be better if there was some monies around that this equipment could be purchased with. Mayor Failace asked when does the year close. Borough Clerk Kathleen Barney said this was it for the year. She said at the next Council Meeting the bills are to be approved and that would be it. Mayor Failace asked were the Department Heads advised that if they needed anything.... Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack said that they were given sufficient notice weeks ago about getting their requisitions in for the meeting tonight. He said a reminder was also sent out at the beginning ofthe week. Mayor Failace said ok. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Councilmember Fazekas said the other thing which was something he had brought up last year and he had talked to John Riggio about was the Chamber of Commerce. He said not so much that the Council has to do anything, but it is to try to coordinate and try to get that together, or established. Mayor Failace said he spoke with John Riggio about the Chamber of Commerce awhile ago. Councilmember Fazekas said he has some information that he will pass to the Mayor and Council. He said he was talking to John Riggio about the UEZ and the Chamber of Commerce. He said they are really two separate entities. He said Chamber of Commerce is a totally separate entity within itself the Council has nothing to do with it whereas with the UEZ they do. He said the big difference is the UEZ is for companies that could actually benefit by the UEZ whereas the Chamber of Commerce supposedly if all businesses apply to it they can benefit by it. He said the Chamber of Commerce is one unit to work with the community. He said what he is going to do is work with 10 John Riggio more to see if they can get some companies, send out some letters and see if he can get this established. He said he thinks it will be a benefit, plus with some of the projects the Council is doing such as the lower part of Roosevelt and Industrial Road maybe it will be a good idea to get their input for those that would like to join. Mayor Failace said to see what happens. He said he thought this was looked into earlier but he had no problem with this. Councilmember Fazekas said that was about it. He said they are moving along with the computers at the police station and he said there would be another computer put in for finance system because they are going to put a new finance system in. Mayor Failace asked Municipal Clerk KatlJleen M. Barney if she gave Councilmember Fazekas the mapping he had on his desk. Municipal Clerk Kathleen M. Barney said no she had just gotten the paperwork. Mayor Failace said he gave the Municipal Clerk Kathleen M. Barney sometlJing tlJat he would like Councilmember Fazekas to look at. He said it is from JS Mapping for mapping the town on the computer for the Fire, police Department and he feels it is something that should be looked at. Councilmember Fazekas said that probably fits in with the pride 2000 that is going to be connected. Mayor Failace said he thinks that is important. He said he did not get his printer yet but he will worry about that next year. Councilmember Mancuso asked Councilmember Fazekas ...(inaudible)...out the Police and Fire in the... (inaudible)... will that have any bearing on the computer system. Councilmember Fazekas said no. Councilmember Mancuso said because if he is ... (inaudible)... and then they are going to do that later is there something else that will have to be done later to incorporate that into it. Councilmember Fazekas said no not that he knows off hand. He said what is being done in the Police Station is that there is a little room back there that has all the radio's, the backups, there is a little area where they are going to put the server. He said he has suggested that these items be marked and identified. He said in that room there is a lot of hardware that needs to be replaced. He said he told the Police to get the manufacturer and find out the dates, if they are under warranty. He said there is also some equipment in this little room that should be pulled out. He said the Police Department should now get a hold of Amquip so if there is any radio information... Councilmember Mancuso stated the police Department could have put $10,000.00 worth of equipment over there, which is electronic equipment, and he was wondering if everything would work out. DECEMBER g, 1999 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (CONTINUED) COMPUTERS POLICE STATION JS MAPPING COMPUTER SYSTEM POLICE DEPARTMENT AMQUIP 11 DECEMBER 9, 1999 AMQUIP (CONTItIUED) CARS FOR DETECTIVE DIVISION BOARD OF EDUCATION LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM Councilmember Fazekas said he would get a hold of Brain. He said they just went through the radio's last year with the Fire and tried to get a meeting together with Amquip. He said he wants to take an inventory, find out the age, find out if these items are under warranty and if Amquip can replace them that would benefit the Council so then they will not have to. He said the other thing is they would like to look into is utilizing their antenna. Councilmember Mancuso stated the antenna was part of the deal. Councilmember Fazekas asked if the Council could get some telephones out of the deal as well. Councilmember Mancuso stated Amquip is putting in $10,000.00 worth of equipment that they are paying for so that the Borough can put their own antennas on. He said that was part of the agreement. Councilmember Fazekas said once the inventory is taken and the Council realizes what they have, then they can sit down, talk with Amquip, and see what they can help them with. Mayor Failace asked Councilmember Mancuso ifhe had anything else for Open. Councilmember Mancuso said he only had something for Closed Session. Councilmember Gutowski said he would just like to inform the Council that the Mayor, Borough Attorney, Business Administrator and himself will be meeting with.. .. (inaudible) cars for the detective division. Councilmember O'Brien stated that he wanted to cut out for next week the hiring of a new maintenance person for buildings and grounds. Mayor Failace asked was it for this year. Councilmember O'Brien said effective January 3, 2000. He said right now Jason and Arnold are going crazy and they are picking up two new buildings come January, the Library and the Community Center. Mayor Failace asked whom does the Borough currently have for Buildings and Grounds. Councilmember O'Brien stated the Borough has Jason, Arnold and now Red who works in the Police Station. Mayor Failace stated he felt this should be talked about in Close Session. He said yesterday he was down in Trenton with Councilmembers Gutowski and Mancuso in reference to the Lease Purchase Program that the School Board is doing. He said it mayor may not be known that the lease purchase went from 7.8 to 11.6. He said this was a $3.8 million increase the School Board applied for the day before. He said they had a meeting last week and the notice said they were going to discuss the report from the State on the High School and action may be taken. He said he does not believe that any of the citizens who saw the notice would have thought the Board of 12 Education would be going into another Lease Purchase Agreement. He said he went down with Councilmember Gutowski and Mancuso to voice his opposition. He said not necessarily his opposition to the fact that the schools do need to be fixed regardless of what some people may have told other people. He said he did not say the High School does not need any work. He said he will say while he was down there making his statement someone came back to him today and stated tlJey were told that while he was giving his statement he was told by Senator Hewing to shut up. He said he absolutely was not told to shut by the Senator. He said even if the Senator wanted him to shut up he does not believe he would have said that. He said the vote was postponed, which is almost unheard of, because he thinks they agreed specifically on this $3.8 million that this was basically hidden from the public. He said the public was not allowed to participate in that. He said he understands the Board of Education is going to have a meeting," Public Hearing", at the next Board of Education Meeting which he thinks is the 15th but he is not sure. He said Dr. Vitta asked if he would sit with him and he said he would. He said if anyone on the Council knew long before the budget was voted on last year, there was going to be a Lease Purchase Agreement he would like him or her to tell him. He said he would like to know because members of the Board of Ed such as Sally Bonventure, and others basically said that the Council knew that this was going on. He said the Council certainly knew that work needed to be done on Nathan Hale but he does not think or at any point in time did anyone say to the Council there was going to be a Lease Purchase that it was not going to be a referendum. He said he was told today that after this is done next year there would be another bond referendum that may in fact get voted down and they will go to another lease purchase. He said he knows the schools need work but after this, the Borough will be sitting with $27.6 million worth of work. He said and God knows what next year. He said personally he thinks Lease Purchasing stinks. He said he told them when he went to the meeting in Trenton the Borough has been told it has to... (inaudible)... he does not know the solution but he would have fought with them with the Department of Education in Trenton to see what could have been done. He said he is tired of the Board of Education just spending the money any way they chose to and circumventing the citizens. He said he thinks a strong letter needs to be sent to them, which he will do, because he is really very upset they never came to the Council and said they needed help, and regardless of what anyone may say tlJey never asked the Council for help. He said he spoke with Frank Parisi, President of the Board of Education, who showed him two pieces of paper and said they would like to do something like this in Nathan Hale School. He said this was about a fifteen-minute conversation and that was the end of it. He said yesterday Sally Bonventure said the public knew because in January of last year at a meeting. He said he was told they checked their record, it was said they have to do something with Nathan Hale, they did not know what but something needed to be done, and that is what they considered was letting the public know. He said he hears all the time that the Mayor and Council are anti-education and that is absolutely not the case. He said the Board of Education also said that for all these years the budget is knocked down and that is why the schools do not get fixed, but he said he would like to know how many budgets besides the last one was cut and maintenance was taken out. He said as far as he knows former Mayor Pete Sica did a $300,000.00 cut once that they had reinstated by appealing it. He said so he would like to 13 DECEMBER 9, 1999 BOARD OF EDUCATION LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM (CornINUED) UMBER g, 1999 lARD OF EDUCATION :ASE PURCHASE WGRAM :ONTINUED) lOT ED PRESENT lESOLUTION #99-383 ¡[SOLUTION TO GO lNTO CLOSES SESSION \DOPTED 1EETI NG CLOSED know, besides the cut the Council has made this year, in all the past years if even though the budget was knocked down if no money was taken out of it by the Council what happened. He said the Board of Education keeps saying their budget kept getting knocked down, he said yes it got knocked down but nobody cut their budget. He said he feels it has been poor management as far as he is concerned, and he feels that the Council has to be strong about this and let them know that. Councilmember Mancuso stated when it is in the paper that $200,000.00 has to be paid back and then asked the president of the Board of Education what happened he says it does not matter it happened long ago but the Borough has to pay it back by the year 2006. He said he is not showing this as a joke but he has a school paper and he felt it was a crime. He said it was a student writing here is a door with a doorknob that has been off for seven weeks and he guesses this is because the Council did not pass the budget. He said there is a maintenance crew that gets hundreds and thousands of dollars where is the preventive maintenance. He said you buy a bucket of plaster and fill the hole, you put a doorknob on the door, and it will only cost $1.98. Mayor Failace said the Council is not anti-education and is certainly pro-tax payer. He said he feels doing what needs to be done has proved this and still controlling taxes where they have not gone up outrageously. He said that he was told this Lease Purchase would probably raise taxes $55.00 but the $250,000.00 the Board of Education has no clue what it was spent on it is just gone. He said that is 2 Y2 tax points. Councilmember Quinones asked the Mayor ifhe was going to draft the letter. Councilmember Crilley was noted present at approximately 7.48 p.m. Mayor Failace said he would like to. He said he would be asking for input from the Council. He said he is tired of hearing anti-education, the Mayor and Council is against the kids. He said it has nothing to do with that at all and he is sure this will be back to the Board of Education by tonight. Mayor Failace asked for a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss Personnel Matters and Contract Negotiations. RESOLUTION #99-383 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to the Council for action Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Mancuso and O'Brien RESOLUTION #99-383 "RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Counci1members Crilley, Fazekas, Gutowski, Mancuso, O'Brien and Quinones voted in the affirmative. At approximately 7.50 p.m. a Closed Session was held. 14 Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Gutowski and Fazekas and unanimous aftim1ative vote of the full Council present, the Agenda Meeting was re-opened at approximately 10:30 p.m. Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack stated the salaries for Rccycling is coming out of the Borough's budgct. He said the problem is the revenue has ncver offset thc cost of Recycling. He said it was put into a Recyclmg Trust Account. Councilmembcr Mancuso stated there are three trucks going out five days a week. Mayor Failacc asked how many guys are there in Recycling. Councilmembcr Mancuso said there arc six drivers. Busmcss Admmistrator Nicholas Goldsack stated they have a dnver and two laborers. Counci lmember Mancuso stated that the salaries for the Recycling laborcrs are not coming out of Recycling they are coming out of the Borough's Municipal Budget which is over $200... thousand. Councilmember Gutowski stated what the Mayor was saying about the t;arbagc is there are six guys, which comes out to $260,000.00 a year In salary and benefits. Busmess Administrator Nicholas Goldsack said yes. Councilmember Ciutowski stated thc Borough pays $350... To have the Borough's garbage picked up by Manella and they have three trucks out on the road all the time, meaning from 7:00 a.m. until sometimes 6-7:00 p.m, and he does not reel that is going to work not six days a week. Busll1css AdmInIstrator Niehoias Goldsack stated the fee is going to be looked imo. He saId one of his concems is the tipping ree is greater then the cost or picking up the garbage. He said thc concern he has is the fact that it is not being monitored. He said if the Council does go with an outside contractor the tipping fees have to be paid by contractor based on history. He said what concems him is the fact that the way it presently is structured now is there is a possibility they could come in from another town with a hal l' a load.... Councilmcmber Mancuso said this was discussed. He said it is not S350.. It IS actualiy costmg the Borough over $8000.00. '- Mayor Failace stated the tipping fee is going to be billed in no matter what. Councilmcmber Gutowski stated it is still well known that garbage companies will pick up \14 of a load here and then you go into another town... DECEMBER g, 1999 MEETl NG OPENED RECYCLl NG l~ DECEMBER g, 1999 RECYCLING CONTI NUED Business Administrator Nicholas Goldsack stated that his other concern was the fact the Borough was going to need two new garbage trucks if not next year the year after. ADJOURNED Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Mancuso and O'Brien and unanimous affirmative vote of the full Council present, after no further discussion, this meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:25 p.m. 2:;~ KATHLEEN M. BARNEY L Municipal Clerk KMB/tr 16