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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1997/03/13 The Agenda Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Carteret preceding the Regular Meeting March 20, 1997, was held on March 13, 1997, 7:00 P.M., Municipal Court/Police Facility, 230 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey. The following were noted present: Mayor Peter J. Sica Council member Bialowarczuk " Feingold " Failace " Gutowski Noted absent were Councilmembers DuPont and Fazekas. Also noted present was Borough Attorney Craig Coughlin. Mailed to the Home News & Tribune, The Star Ledger and posted on the bulletin board on March 7, 1997. a) Gary Higgins - He said he was requested to discuss the Sewer User Charge. He said the way he is understanding it after talking to a couple members of the Governing Body it's basically to be a review of all the prior year cost allocations made against the Sewer User Fees., looking at whether the allocations were proper and to see if they are all inclusive. He said they already cited at a couple of the Budget Meetings a couple of things they would like to look into with respect to insurance charges allocated right now for Liability and Vehicle Insurance on the vehicles used by the Sewer Department and also Utility Charges for any of the Buildings regarding employees handling sewer type related activities and then look at the allocations that they have done in the past. Once you 1 MARŒ 13, 1997 AGaIDA HEEITNG Mm:ch 13, 1997 PRESENI' STATIMENf OF HEEITNG OOITCE ro AJ)I)RE)S 00ffi00N( BOOY Gary Higgins HARŒ 13, 1997 Gary Higgins Cant: Counci1member Fazekas noted present establish the revenue in the 1997 Budget being brought in from the Capital Fund and then to establish the reduction that was made in the amount coming over from 1996 because we used a lower amount in the Capital section of the budget then actually was calculated based on what the costs were not allocated into the charges last year. Mayor Sica asked if they could take credits back. Gary said if it is a correction of money that was put over to the Capital Fund that shouldn't have been. It is an audit adjustment and he thinks it is applicable. Mayor Sica said they took $190,000.00 this year as a revenue. Gary said we can't support that just based on 1996, if it goes back five (5) or six (6) years he don't see problem including the money because it doesn't belong over in the Capital Fund. Mayor Sica said the problem now is where do we get that $190,000.00 next year. Gary said that could be a one (I) shot revenue. Mayor Sica said that is smoke screen accounting. Gary said this is an adjustment of the prior year just not providing for sufficent allocations to the Sewer User Charge, so if that is the case there is too much money in the General Capital Fund, $190,000,00 and we are basically looking to move it back. At approximately 7:05 p.m., Council member Fazekas was noted present. Mayor Sica asked why couldn't we just take that $190,000.00 as a one time item and reduce the outstanding Bond balance on that sewer project with sewer money. Why take that money and put it into the budget to pay cop's salaries. Gary said it may not belong in General Capital Fund, it should have been put as Surplus. Mayor Sica said it is irrelevant, it is still money that is generated through the Sewer User Fee. Gary said it should have been off set by possibly Utility and Insurance costs, but we don't know, that is what we are trying to establish. Mayor Sica asked for $6000.00. He commented if the Council wanted to throw that away on Smoke Screen Bookkeeping to go ahead. Council member Failace asked Gary what our benefit is this year. Gary said the benefit is $190,000.00 of revenue this year because it should have gone in surplus, but the allocations weren't made. It should be in General Surplus. Mayor Sica said it is still money that is generated by the Sewer User Fee, and he thinks if we could go back ten (10) years that money should have been used to reduce the outstanding balances on the bonds other then taking it and putting it into the General Fund to pay salaries. Gary said taxpayers have paid insurance premiums that were relating the Sewer User Charge and they shouldn't have. So this is recouping the premium that was allocated through the taxpayers to have (inaudible) taxation, that they shouldn't have paid. The Sewer User should have picked it up. Mayor Sica told them they are automatically starting out last year with $190,000.00 deficit. Gary said he is talking about two (2) more tax points this year and it may be rightfully the taxpayers money to reduce taxation. The Council decided to put a Professional Service Resolution on for Gary Higgins for $6000.00. 3 MARŒ 13, 1997 Gary Higgins Cant: MARQI 13, 1997 Borough Engineer Jose¡it P. Schiappa, Esq. MINUl'ES FOR APPROV AI.. PUBliC HEARING PROCLAMATI(JIT BIDS ORDINANŒ5 ~(JITS b) Borough Engineer - Parmar gave a report on sewer lines and separations. He said an official proposal has been received to remove the oil tank from the Recreation Center. He is signing it and sending it back. He said they can select the tiles, floors and countertops and the Mayor said he would stop in and look at the selections. He said one thousand four hundred dollars was not in the scope of this contract for the floor. He said the drawings were approved. c) Joseph P. Schiappa Esq. - He was not present. January 16 & 30, 1997. 1997 Local Municipal Budget. Carteret Disabled Awareness Day. Improvements to Leffert Street. First Reading: #97-8 Capital Improvement Ordinance Appropriating $40,000.00 for Repair to the Cherry Picker & Building Repairs, 20 Cooke Avenue. Public Hearing; #97-7 Amending Code, Chapter 207 - Re: Sewers. RESOLUTIONS: Amendment to Temporary Budget. Authorizing RCA Agreement, Re: East Amwell Twp. - Mayor Sica said they have anywhere from five (5) to twenty (20) units that they are willing to give us for $20,000.00 each. 4 This is the first step. The Mayor and Council member Failace discussed low and moderate income housing. Council member Gutowski asked the Mayor what sort of direction or clarification was Pat Holden looking for in this letter from the State, when she is saying that some of these projects appear to be overfunded. Mayor Sica asked if they were talking about 59 Roosevelt Avenue. Councilmember Failace said he thought it was. Mayor Sica said that is the State's problem, if the State is giving them any money. We are not giving them any money. Councilmember Gutowski said she is saying if we fund them the $220,000.00 for one (I) project, then it appears we are overfunded so she is asking them for some sort of clarification. Mayor Sica said he did not know where Pat Holden was getting the numbers from. He said the best thing to do is to call her in and ask her. He then asked the Council if they wanted to look at this RCA Agreement with Amwell provided we can work out the terms and conditions. He feels it is like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Attorney Coughlin said he had a conversation with the Council for Mr. Raia, and ours was in the nature of the assignment of our funds to him, but not a loan. Directing the Issuance of Various Raffle Licenses. Directing the Issuance of Various Amusement Game Distributor's Licenses. ABC Transfer from Maureen Bruss to Enrique Giordano. (B&B Lounge) - Attorney Coughlin said to check this one because on the application the Source of Funds is blank. 5 MARQl13, 1997 RÐ>OLUT!(JITS Cant: HARŒ 13, 1997 R&<;OllJl'I(JITS Cant: APPLlCATI(JITS aHtUNICATI(JITS REl'ORl'S MA'ITffiS FOR DIsaJSSI(JIT G. Lavan NJOOP John Spoganetz, Esq. Carteret Library Board Joseph Schiappa Approving Renewal of ABC License for 1996/1997, Re: Francis Melnizek (Sail Inn) Approving ABC Transfer from Francis Melnizek to Enrique Giordano. ABC Transfer from Enrique Giordano to Nikk Inc. Twp. Of Manchester - Urging legislation supporting state reimbursement for totally disabled veteran property tax exemption. Board of Health - February 1997. Inspection of Buildings - February 1997. Treasurer - February 1997. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION: G. Lavan - Requesting a hearing, Re: Grievances. Mayor Sica said to set it up with AFSCME. NJDOP - Asking if Borough requires a CDL License for Mechanics position. Mayor Sica said of course. John Spoganetz, Esq. - Road condition at Columbus School corner. Mayor Sica said they will have Parmar look at it. CARTERET LIBRARY BOARD - Resignation of Michele Haloz, term to expire 12/31/98. Joseph Schiappa ~ Requesting Professional Service Resolution, not to exceed $3500.00 for 1997 Tax Appeals. Council member Failace said he would like to put another lawyer's name in there. He mentioned Catherine Aldrich for the same amount. 6 Councilman Gutowski- a) Recreation Building - Mayor Sica said to call in the three (3) different groups that will be using it for a meeting for maintaining the building. b) Jitney Bus - Council member Gutowski suggested buying some kind of a town bus for transportation. Mayor Sica said the cost would be about $100,000.00. He said they will look into it. He will get a cost breakdown in insurance. He said they also have to pay the driver twelve (12) or thirteen (13) dollars an hour. c) Council member Gutowski said he has one Personnel Matter for Closed Session. Ron Simon - OEM Coordinator term expires 3/24/97. Need resolution to re-appoint. Mayor Sica said he wanted to re- appoint Mr. Simon. NJ League of Municipalities - Requesting resolutions from municipalities to participate with them as a named party in litigation challenging the validity of Site Improvement Standards. Attorney Coughlin said he would take a look at it. Judge Kaplan - Requesting clarification of accrued time. This will be discussed in a Closed Session. Construction Official - a) Requesting ordinance to permit exemption of certain Organizations from application & Inspection fees to an amount established by Construction Official. Mayor Sica said this was for the Churches. This was put on for the meeting. b) Requesting Change Order for Sport's Recreation Facility. d) Tank Removal we did. e) Requesting Part time Electrical Subcode Official. Mayor Sica said Ralph wants to move Karen Fadem up there for three (3) hours. Councilmember Failace said he had a couple of questions on this so they would discuss it in Closed Session. 7 MARQl13, 1997 Councilman Gutowski Recreation Building Jitney Bus Personnel Matter Ron SiIoon NJ League of tbnicipalities Judge Kaplan Construction Official HARm 13, 1997 Construction Official Cont: Carteret Health Department Cœmmity Deve10pnent Carteret Vohmteer Fire Department Borough of Sayreville BUSINESS ro BE ADDED Cœmmity Center f) Requesting Part-time Electrical Subcode Official. Mayor Sica he is asking him for this man he has on part time for $350.00 a week would take the place of Fire Subcode Official and Electrical Official and he feels he could save money doing it this way. He said this should also be discussed in Closed Session. Carteret Health Department - a)Salary Ordinance - The Clerk said they never approved this. Mayor Sica said they still have to look at it so to hold it. b) VNA Account - Need $770.00 additional in 1997 Budget. This was okayed. c) Requesting Mayor execute 1997 VNA Agreement. This was okayed. Community Development - Requesting partial waiver of fees for furnace installation in mobile homes. Mayor Sica said we cannot cut the fee because we are giving them the money. Carteret Volunteer Fire Department - Asking for unused old copy machine in Borough Hall. Mayor Sica said that we are just signing it over to them, they cannot keep it. Borough of Sayreville - Asking for support to stop proposed dumping of dredge spoils in Sayreville and County of Middlesex. Mayor Sica said he doesn't see why we should get involved in that. BUSINESS TO BE ADDED: Councilmember Gutowski asked what the policy is on the rental of the Community Center. Mayor Sica said we don't charge anyone to rent it. They just have to clean it up. Council member Gutowski asked if it could be used for anything, like weddings, etc. Mayor Sica said yes. 8 Councilmember Gutowski asked if they had to post any kind of money in case of cleanup or damages. Mayor Sica said if they don't clean up they won't get it again. Council member Gutowski said the Little League handed him a list of equipment they are requesting and he is not familiar with how it is handled. He asked what the policy is on purchasing equipment. At approximately 7:50 p.m., Council member Feingold was noted absent. Mayor Sica said the Borough has to purchase the equipment. Attorney Coughlin said we have to be under State Contract. Councilmember Fazekas said they had a meeting today to go over networking the Borough. He said we might be purchasing some servers and commented that Patrick De Blasio has some software to look at and a Financial Package. Probably next month they will be getting all the Department Heads together and we have to go over the whole network and explain it to them. Council member Failace asked who dug up Jackson Avenue because they did a horrible job, it is all caved in. Mayor Sica said the Gas Company did it. He told Teddy that when they do a street and it sinks in he has to send them a letter until they come in and fix it, or we will fix it and charge them for it. They have to restore it to the position it was. Councilmember Failace asked the Mayor if he saw the letter from the County on how much it is going to cost the Borough to fix the turn on Washington Avenue. 9 MARQl13, 1997 Cœmmity Center Cont: Little League Counci1member Feingold noted absen1 Borough Networking Jackson Avenue Washington Avenue MARQI 13, 1997 Washington Ave. Cont: ~(JIT #97-101 Resolution to go Into Closed Session Adopted CLŒID SESSI(JIT HEEITNG 0PmID Mayor Sica questioned what was wrong with the turn. Council member Failace said he agreed on seeing nothing wrong with it. Mayor Sica said to forget about it because we don't want it and Councilmember Failace agreed. Attorney Coughlin said he would send the County the letter telling them they don't want it done. RESOLUTION #97-101 was introduced by the Mayor and referred to the Council for action. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas RESOLUTION #97-101 "RESOLUTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION" was adopted. Upon individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bialowarczuk, Fail ace , Fazekas and Gutowski voted in the affirmative. Councilmembers DuPont and Feingold were noted absent. At approximately 7:55 p.m., a Closed Session was held. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the four (4) Councilmembers present this meeting was opened at approximately 8:50 p.m. 10 Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Failace and Fazekas and unanimous affirmative vote of the four (4) Council members present, after no further discussion, this meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:51 p.m. '¿ý V KMB/lr II MARQl13, 1997 ADJOORNID ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ ,