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Home My Public Portal About08-03-06a MARCH 6, 2008 The Agenda Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Calieret preceding the Regular Meeting, April 10, 2008, was held on March 6, 2008, 5:00 P.M., Council Chambers, Memorial Municipal Building, 61 Cooke Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey. AGENDA MEETIN( ~Iarch 6, 2008 The following were noted present: PRESENT . Mayor Daniel J. Reiman Counci1member Vincent Bellino " Jorge Diaz " Susan Naples " Joseph W. Sitarz Noted Absent were Councilmembers Randy KTIlm and Ronald G. Rios. Also noted present was Municipal Clerk, Kathleen M. Ba11leyand Borough Att011ley, Robeli 1. Bergen. Mayor Reiman explained that he had a letter from the fonner Council President Rios, who was absent at this meeting. He explained that he had been selected, the evening prior, as the next Freedholder for Middlesex COlmty. He then read the letter into the record: ~Iayor, Re: Council President Dear Ms. Ba11ley, I hereby resign my positIOn as a member of the Borough Council of the Borough of Carteret, effective immediately. He said it was dated today and said it is pari of our policy here, his principals and also the statute that took effect this year, that no official can hold two (2) offices. He also went on record wishing him the best, commenting that he has been a great asset to the team 1 .~J MARCH 6, 2008 Council President Cont: STATEMENT OF MEETING NOTICE . in Carieret. He said he served twelve (12) years as a Councilmember and for the last six (6) he was Council President and said they look to a lot of good things for Carteret from Middlesex County. The Clerk stated that on December 31, 2007, the 2008 Alillual Meeting Notice was mailed to The Home News Tribune, The Star Ledger and posted on the bulletin board. The Amended Annual Notice was posted on the bulletin board on February 25, 2008 and was published on Febmary 26,2008. Silent prayer/ The meeting was opened with a minute of silent prayer and the Pledge Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Daniel J. Reiman. Agenda Amended, Re: Fill Vacant Council Seat for Council President Mayor Reiman then asked to Amend the Agenda to fill the Constihltionallyand Statuary seat ofCOlillcil President. Mayor Reiman then asked if there is a motion from the Council for the unexpired term of Council President. Councilmember Naples made a motion to nominate Councilman Joseph "Skippy" Sitarz to serve as Council President and to be the team leader of the Borough Council. Mayor Reiman said this would be for a term expiring December 31,2008. Councilmember Bellino second the motion saying it has been a long time coming and he has the knowledge and experience and he will be an asset. 2 MARCH 6, 2001 Mayor Reiman then asked if there were any more nominations. Nominations, Re: Council President There were no more nomina tons so the nominations were closed. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Naples and Bellino and individual roll call vote, Councilmembers Bellino, Diaz, Naples and Sitarz voted in the Affilmative to appoint Councilmember Sitarz to be Council President. Councilmembers Krum was noted Absent. Councilmembel Sitarz appointed Council President . Mayor Reiman told Coucilmember Sitarz to take his seat as Council President and spoke on how he had served on the Council in the 1970's and 1980's and 1990's. He was then sworn in as Council President. 06iitld':Klime'ttibeI Si't'ar-i. "Sworn in as Council President Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Rios and Bellino and unanimous affilmative vote of the four (4) Councihnembers present, the Minutes of January 24, February 7 and February 21, 2008 were approved and transcribed and engrossed by the Clerk. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL PROCLAMATION: Girl Scout Week. This will be postponed further into the meeting. PROCLAMATION Re: Girl Scout Heek 3 MARCH 6, 2008 ORDINANCES First Reading ORDINANCE #08-09 "Index Rate Ordinance" . First Reading ORDINANCE #08-10 "Amending and Supplementing Chapter 202, Entitled "Recycling" of the Code of the Borough" First Reading Mayor, Re: Ordinances First Reading- ORDINANCE #08-09 was introduced and adopted on First Reading and the Clerk authorized and directed to adveliise same for Public Hearing to be held on April 10, 2008, upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Diaz and Naples. Upon individual roll call vote Councilmembers Bellino, Diaz, Naples and Sitarz voted in the Affinnative. Councilmember Krum was noted Absent. ORDINANCE #08-09 "INDEX RATE ORDINANCE" ORDINANCE #08-10 was introduced and adopted on First Reading and the Clerk authorized and directed to advertise same for Public Hearing to be held on April 1 0, 2008, upon MMS&C by Councilmember Diaz and Sitarz. Upon individual roll call vote Councihnembers Bellino, Diaz, Naples and Sitarz voted in the Affirmative. Councilmember Krum was noted Absent. ORDINANCE #08-10 "A1YIENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 202, ENTITLED, "RECYCLING" OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH" Mayor Reiman asked about additional ordinances for ABC and for Emergency services. 4 MARCH 6, 2008 Ordinances, Cont: The Clerk confirmed they had already been done for First Reading and are schedn1ed for Public Hearing on April 1 oth. . Mayor Reiman asked if there were any questions on Resolutions GI thru G8. He spoke about G6, which is the introduction to the 2008 Mlmicipal Budget, saying we are under a time constraint because the next formal Council Meeting is April 10th, so we had to introduce our budget now explaining that under Gove11lor Corzine's plan we received a reduction of nearly 9% in funding and perhaps complete elimination of our discretionary aid and the increase in pension and health care costs is almost two (2) million dollars, so we now have a five (5) million dollar deficit in reduction in state aid and said because of that he will have an imergency depariment head meeting where we ar'e reducing every operating expense between 10% and 20% in all departments. He said they will have to begin a plan and structured layoffs in various departments. Under the Cap Law we can only go up 4%, which would give us an increase of 1.6 million, but we are facing about a two and a half million dollar short fall so we will start diligently on this budget for this fiscal year. He then went on to speak about G6, which is authorizing preparation of Extraordinary Aid Application. He explained that this is a statutory deadline of March 21st so we Ineed to get it on tonight. He then went on to speak about G8, which is authorizing a Cafeteria Plan. He said it is pari of our plan forreducing expenses, he said this is Section 125 of the IRS Code, which allows employees to opt out of health insurance for a cash incentive. This would be for cunent employees who cunent1y receive health care benefits if they so choose. If they have coverage through a spouse etc., they could opt out and we would give them a cash incentive. This would be a minimum of savings for the city. Mayor Reiman, Re: Resolutions Councilmember Naples said it sounds like a great plan, with the cost of health insurance, but questioned that it would have to be negotiated with the individual to accept that. Mayor Reiman said it would be up to the individuals sole option and the IRS Code and the State Law authorizes it and it could only 5 MARCH 6, 2008 RESOLUTIONS . Consent Agenda be a maximum of 50% up to a certain dollar value and they could come back into the plan during the Open Enrollment, once a year. 1. Creating Handicapped Parking Space for 67 Leber Avenue. 2. Approving the 2008 CDBG Program. 3.Professional Services-CME Associates, Re: General Engineering Services. 4. Professional Services - T&M Associates, Re: Industrial Road U-Turn. 5. Directing the Issuance of Various Raffle Licenses. 6. Introduction ofthe 2008 Local Municipal Budget. 7. Authorizing Preparation of Extraordinary Aid Application. 8. Authorizing Cafeteria Plan. Mayor Reiman then asked for a motion on the Consent Agenda, G1 thm G8. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Naples and Sitarz : RESOLUTION #08-71 "Creating a Handicapped Parking Space for 67 Leber Avenue" RESOLUTION #08-72 "Approving the 2008 CDSBG Program" RESOLUTION #08-73 "Professional Services-CME Associates, Re: General Engineering Services for 2008" RESOLUTION #08-74 "Professional Services - T&M Associates, Re: Industrial Road U- Tutn" 6 MARCH f), 200~ RESOLUTION #08-75 .. "Authorizing Preparation of Extraordinary Aid Application" RESOLUTION #08-75 "ExtraordinaI Aid Appl:batio Still Need from Patrick RESOLUTION #08-76 "Introduction ofthe 2008 Local Municipal Budget" RESOLUTION #08-76 "Local Municipal Budget" RESOLUTION #08-7'l "Cafeteria Plan" RESOLUTION #08-77 "Authorizing Cafeteria Plan" Still Need from Attorney . were Adopted. Upon individual roll call vote Councihnembers Bellino, Diaz, Naples and Sitarz voted in the Affilmative. Councihnember Krum was noted Absent. Adopted Please note that Resolution noted as number 5 should not have been passed on this Consent Agenda. This will go forward to the April 1 oth Council Meeting for approval. Clerk's Note Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Diaz and Naples, all bills appearing on the prepared bill list, properly audited and signed. were ordered to be paid. Upon individual roll qlll vote COlillcihnembers Bellino, Diaz, Naples and Sitarz voted in the Affirmative. Councilmember Krum was noted Absent. PAYMENT OF BILLS Clerk's Office - February 2008. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Diaz and Sitarz and unanimous affilmative vote of the four (4) Councilmembers present, all RepOlis were ordered to be received and placed on file. REPORTS 7 MARCH 6, 2008 BUSINESS TO BE ADDED Council President Sitarz, Re: Applications . Mayor, Re: Policy Councilmember Bellino, R;e: Bowling Championship PUBLIC DISCUSSION Public Portion Closed BUSINESS TO BE ADDED: Council President Sitarz spoke about a new application fonn. He had two (2) samples and he suggested sitting down and choosing the one best suited for Carteret. Mayor Reiman said to share that with the Legal Department because the applications in the past have not allowed for certain information, such as a criminal background check and a financial background check. . Councilmember Naples asked if that was for Borough Employees. Council President Sitarz said yes. Mayor Reiman also implemented a policy, prior to his office making direct appointments, for disclosure forms and financial and criminal background checks so we can have the highest integrity in all of our boards and agencies. It is a new f011l1 and Mr. McFee will make that available to the C0l11lcil. Councimember Bellino said he received the list of the Bowlin~ Teams that won the state championship and he said on April lOt they will give out Letters of Achievement. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Sitarz and Naples and unanimous affirmative vote of the four (4) Councilmembers present, the meeting was opened for Public Discussion. There was no public discussion. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Diaz and Sitarz and unanimous affinnative vote of the four (4) Councilmembers present the public portion ofthis meeting was closed. 8 MARCH 6, 2008 PROCLAMATION: Girl Scout Week. PROCLAMATION "Girl Scout \;j"eek" Mayor Reiman then asked the leaders of the Girl Scout Troop to come up and he then read the Proclamation into the record: WHEREAS, Wednesday March 12, 2008 marks the 96th amriversary of Girl Scouts of the USA, founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 in Savannah, Georgia; and WHEREAS, throughout its distinguished history, Girl Scouting has helped build millions of girls and women of courage, confidence and character; and . WHEREAS, through the dedication, time and talent of volunteers of different backgrounds, abilities and areas of expeliise, the Girl Scout Organization thrives for girls in so many settings; WHEREAS, through Girl Scouting's unique leadership development program, girls define leadership by making the world a better place by discovering, cOlmecting and taking action in their conmmnities; and WHEREAS, Girl Scouting takes an active role in increasing girls' awareness of the opportunities available to them today in math, science, sports, technology, health and fields that can expand their horizons, as well as government; and WHEREAS, more than 3.7 million Girl Scout members nationwide will be celebrating 96 years of this American tradition, with nearly 50 million women who grew up participating in Girl Scouting and exe11lplify the impact of this amazing movement; NOW, THEREFORE, I DANIEL J. REIMAN, Mayor of the Borough of Carteret, in conjunction with the Borough Council, do hereby acknowledge the week of March 9th thru March 15th, 2008, as Girl Scout Week in the Borough of Carteret and request that all 9 MARCH 6, 2008 Proclamation Cont: ADJOURNED . residents of the Borough hereby applaud the commitment the Girl Scouts have made to American girls, especially to our youth here in the Borough of Carieret. Upon MMS&C by Councilmembers Sitarz and Diaz and unanimous affilmative vote of the four (4) Councilmembers present, this meeting was Adjou11led at approximately 5:25 P.M. KMB/lr Respect ully submitted, . .'" ( .----P . '/e;L ..' /~A G/V-- <-/~, . THLEEN M. BARNEY, M~-72------. Municipal Clerk U 10