On Monday September 20, I met with Franklin resident Frank Bell (http://www.bellarchitect.com) to draft out our application for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant rebate program. The program is sponsored by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program and no-match funding up to $20,000 per municipality is available for energy audits of municipal-owned buildings. The applications are due by December 31 but we are going to get ours in by the first or second week of October. I will keep you posted on the progress of this grant application through this blog site.
On Tuesday, September 21 I met with our Financial Officer Ron Matthews to draft out our Local Government Best Practices Checklist that is due back to the State Department of Community Affairs on October 1. This checklist consists of 88 questions each NJ municipality is required to answer “yes, no, or not applicable”; the number of “yes” answers will depend on the percentage of final State aid payout the town gets. Here are our results: we scored 50 yes points which resulted in a 98% of final State aid payout- what does that mean in dollars? Our total State aid is about $275,000; our final payout is 5% or $13,750; and 98% of that is $13,475, so we lost $275 in State aid. I am not one to discount any dollar loss but I thought our loss was going to be a lot more than $275.
On Wednesday, September 22 I attended the special meeting of the Board of Education at which time they announced contingency plans for the first day of classes- September 27. Everyone was disappointed that the school wouldn’t be ready by the 27th, but many more were upset about the proposed school bus pickup / drop off location which was supposed to happen in front of the school. The location was later changed to St. Catherine’s Church. Since the 22nd it has been announced that classes K-5 will be starting school on the 28th at the school (http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/classes_for_k-5_students_will.html). I’ve noticed tremendous progress over last week, even today (Sunday) scores of workers were on site so it looks like it will sooner rather than later that the school will be habitable by students of all classes. So long as the construction area is separate and does not affect the students safety and concentration, perhaps both can co-exist until all of the work is done and we can close this ugly chapter of Township history.
On Thursday, September 23 the Township Committee meeting held its work session. The usual season ticket holders were present- what does it take to get more members of the public to attend? Here is a breakdown of what happened:
1. We approved the 9/9/10 meeting minutes
2. Ken Mandoli acting on behalf of the non-profit group “Remember Together” gave a presentation on a proposed 9/11/01 memorial at Landsdown Meadows. Remember Together is seeking consent of the Committee to move forward with the project and we consented. The memorial is slated to be finished by September 11, 2011. A recent article on njnews.com explains the memorial in greater detail: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/07/sept_11_monument_planned_by_fr.html
3. We authorized payment of bills from 9/10/10 through 9/23/10. Big ticket items included the 3rd installment of the Fire District tax levy ($75,000), the 9/9/10 municipal employee payroll ($32,729), road surface treatment for Nixon Farm Road ($21,931), and the October billing for the Municipal Court of North Hunterdon ($9,024). The total amount of checks cut between 9/10/10 and 9/23/10 was $155,650.43.
4. Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli is going to look into utilizing a “Speed Sentry” radar sign which displays motorists’ speeds and records speed data. The sign is available on loan to municipalities for up to one month free of charge. Mr. Mandoli is going to find out how much it costs after the first month but it is a first come, first serve basis.
5. At 8:00 PM the Committee changed hats and became the Board of Health where we concluded a hearing of a septic system for Block 34, Lot 6 and granted a 3 month approval extension for Block 26, Lot 10.
6. Our clerical assistant update included the cancellation of monthly rug service delivery by Aramark- we were paying $300 plus a month for the rug service- instead we purchased rugs for $420 and will maintain them ourselves. I got on this issue a few months ago and I am glad we have resolved it by purchasing our own rugs. This may be small potatoes when we are talking about a $3.3 million dollar annual budget, but if I can find places to save money- no matter how small- I will do it.
7. Speaking of saving money, we approved Resolution 2010-63 which requests the Hunterdon County Freeholders to engage in an analysis of all police, fire, and rescue services. Several other municipalities in Hunterdon County have sent the Freeholders similar resolutions so let’s see if they act on it or not.
8. From the good, to the bad, to the ugly, Town Committee gets it all- we approved a deer carcass removal agreement with a private company at a cost of $58.00 per carcass. Hunterdon County takes care of carcass removal from county roadways but on local roadways, we are on our own. Carcasses will be removed within a timely 48 hours.
Upcoming events in Franklin for October include the Rural Awareness Harvest Home Tour October 9 and the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Fall is my favorite time of the year, but it happens so quickly- one nasty rainstorm in early November will knock out the pastiche of multi-colored leaves. So as October yields its bountiful harvest of yellows, oranges and reds, be sure to appreciate the beauty that you are witness to because before you know it, you will be shoveling snow waiting for the Burpee seed catalog!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
September 5 – September 18, 2010
September morn
We danced until the night became a brand new day
Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play
September morning still can make me feel that way
Thanks Neil Diamond for the inspiring and heartfelt lyrics but lately I just don’t feel like dancing; nor do I want to hear Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out Forever.” How about “Back to School Again” by the Four Tops for a change? Now we’re talking.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks as your committeeman. Summer is a distant memory and it’s back to work as I continue to serve the residents of Franklin. Our ongoing school construction project continues to be the most important issue in town; I’ll cover that in my September 13 entry.
Wednesday September 8: Land Use Board
Our meeting was a work session where members gave updates on the various ordinances being worked on for eventual Committee consideration; these ordinances include: tree preservation, lighting, steep slope, riparian buffer, home occupation, solar energy, and wind energy. If you are interested in assisting with the preparation and review of any of these ordinances or have questions please contact me and I can either assist you myself or put you in touch with the right people.
Thursday September 9: Township Committee
Given that two committee members were absent, the meeting was a little shorter than usual:
-We approved the August 12 meeting minutes.
-Franklin Resident Frank Bell gave a presentation and informed us that state grant and federal stimulus money is available to municipalities for energy audits and energy efficient upgrades. More information about the grant can be found at: http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/home/home I am meeting with Mr. Bell next week to review the grant application. I see this as a win-win situation for the environment and the taxpayers; if you have been to the municipal building the words “energy efficient” aren’t the first that come to mind so I look forward to taking advantage of energy efficient technology and saving the taxpayers some money. East Amwell recently completed a similar project- their experiences can be viewed here: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/east_amwell_using_grants_for_e.html
-We paid the bills by approving the check control register covering 8/12/2010 – 9/9/2010. We disbursed $1,503,962; big ticket items included: $801,185 (Franklin Board of Education), $529,748 (North Hunterdon / Voorhees School District), $50,595 (8/27 municipal payroll), $34,815 (8/13 municipal payroll), and $26,880 (August health insurance premium for municipal employees). Our check control register is always public information and is available at the clerk’s office and at the committee meetings; I invite all to review these bills and to ask questions and provide suggestions on how we can reduce our spending.
-We approved Resolution 2010-62 designating an $800,000 bond anticipation note a “qualified tax-exempt obligation”.
-We approved Resolution 2010-61 authorizing the township engineer to submit a grant application to the NJ Department of Transportation for the West Sidney Road Phase 2 Improvement Project. Phase 2 work consists of 1 mile of work from the southwest of Rote 617 (Cherryville Road) to Cherryville Road. The scope of work consists of storm sewer improvements, pavement repairs, minor road widening, roadway leveling, resurfacing, and driveway repairs. The total estimated cost of the project is $303,600.
-We received August reports from the Police Department and Department of Public Works. A special note was made in the police report that the Class II Special Officers volunteered 85 hours of their time in August. In August 189 motor vehicle summonses and 158 motor vehicle warnings were issued compared to July when 149 summonses were issued and only 58 warnings were issued. DPW was busy in August with vehicle and equipment repair / maintenance, and road work, and assisting with moving boxes of files at the municipal building.
-We met as the Board of Health and approved a septic system application at Block 34, Lot 6.
-Mayor Jacukowicz and I gave the Committee an update on the Land Use Board’s September 8 meeting. We had 10 zoning applications in the month of August which included 3 solar array projects, an in-ground pool, and a storage shed. We carried amending the construction fees to the next meeting.
-Mark your calendars: the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Saturday September 11: Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken Event
Being a committeeman wouldn’t be complete without attending a cookout / BBQ and the Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken event hit the spot. Besides indulging in delicious chicken and amazing baked beans, I was able to talk to members of the fire company and township residents. These events are fewer far between in our community and that it is a shame- getting to know each other is what makes small towns special; once you lose the connection and communication with your neighbor you might as well live in a lackluster suburb or unforgiving city. To see pictures from the BBQ check out: http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116567
The QFC is holding an Oktoberfest on October 2, for more information check out http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116570
Monday September 13: Board of Education Meeting
Over 60 people attended this meeting; the BOE provided the public with an update on the construction project. This chart describing the progress made was distributed to the public: http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/FTS_Home_New_files/FTS%20School%20Construction%20Status%20Report%20v4.pdf Superintendent Harttraft told us the list of items that need to be addressed before a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) can be issued. Board members discussed briefly the types of contingency plans they are considering if the school cannot be occupied on September 27. Plenty of residents had questions and for the most part I felt their questions were answered. The next BOE special meeting is scheduled for September 22, 7:30 PM at the firehouse- that meeting will be important because the BOE will announce whether the building is ready or not and if not, what the contingency plans will be in place.
My commentary: Overall I thought the meeting went well; tempers were in check, and I didn’t get the strong feeling that there was a “blame game” going on. Sure there were complaints about bureaucracy, permitting, lackluster field work, and overbearing inspections but anyone who has ever been involved in a construction project knows first hand that “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” As a licensed professional planner I work for the city of Plainfield and part of my job includes working with our construction official with certificate of occupancy inspections. I have inspected many schools and I can attest that the process is tedious because so much is at stake. It is possible for a school to operate and still have the appearance of a construction zone. I visited the school on Saturday the 18th and workers were digging the pits for the water tanks; I happened to meet BOE President Chris Piparo on site and we had an encouraging conversation. I also met with our construction official, mayor, and the school’s general contractor on the 14th to get an update on the permitting process and what is required for a TCO. Going what I have heard and seen, and given my experiences with inspecting schools, I am encouraged and feel that the school could be ready for a TCO by the 27th- it is not impossible, but additional work needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly and correctly. I am hoping for the best and that our children are able to attend classes in Franklin Township on September 27th.
The media continues to cover our school construction project:
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_kids_will_be_in_schoo.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_township_school_on_tr.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/school_officials_promise_frank.html
We danced until the night became a brand new day
Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play
September morning still can make me feel that way
Thanks Neil Diamond for the inspiring and heartfelt lyrics but lately I just don’t feel like dancing; nor do I want to hear Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out Forever.” How about “Back to School Again” by the Four Tops for a change? Now we’re talking.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks as your committeeman. Summer is a distant memory and it’s back to work as I continue to serve the residents of Franklin. Our ongoing school construction project continues to be the most important issue in town; I’ll cover that in my September 13 entry.
Wednesday September 8: Land Use Board
Our meeting was a work session where members gave updates on the various ordinances being worked on for eventual Committee consideration; these ordinances include: tree preservation, lighting, steep slope, riparian buffer, home occupation, solar energy, and wind energy. If you are interested in assisting with the preparation and review of any of these ordinances or have questions please contact me and I can either assist you myself or put you in touch with the right people.
Thursday September 9: Township Committee
Given that two committee members were absent, the meeting was a little shorter than usual:
-We approved the August 12 meeting minutes.
-Franklin Resident Frank Bell gave a presentation and informed us that state grant and federal stimulus money is available to municipalities for energy audits and energy efficient upgrades. More information about the grant can be found at: http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/home/home I am meeting with Mr. Bell next week to review the grant application. I see this as a win-win situation for the environment and the taxpayers; if you have been to the municipal building the words “energy efficient” aren’t the first that come to mind so I look forward to taking advantage of energy efficient technology and saving the taxpayers some money. East Amwell recently completed a similar project- their experiences can be viewed here: http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/east_amwell_using_grants_for_e.html
-We paid the bills by approving the check control register covering 8/12/2010 – 9/9/2010. We disbursed $1,503,962; big ticket items included: $801,185 (Franklin Board of Education), $529,748 (North Hunterdon / Voorhees School District), $50,595 (8/27 municipal payroll), $34,815 (8/13 municipal payroll), and $26,880 (August health insurance premium for municipal employees). Our check control register is always public information and is available at the clerk’s office and at the committee meetings; I invite all to review these bills and to ask questions and provide suggestions on how we can reduce our spending.
-We approved Resolution 2010-62 designating an $800,000 bond anticipation note a “qualified tax-exempt obligation”.
-We approved Resolution 2010-61 authorizing the township engineer to submit a grant application to the NJ Department of Transportation for the West Sidney Road Phase 2 Improvement Project. Phase 2 work consists of 1 mile of work from the southwest of Rote 617 (Cherryville Road) to Cherryville Road. The scope of work consists of storm sewer improvements, pavement repairs, minor road widening, roadway leveling, resurfacing, and driveway repairs. The total estimated cost of the project is $303,600.
-We received August reports from the Police Department and Department of Public Works. A special note was made in the police report that the Class II Special Officers volunteered 85 hours of their time in August. In August 189 motor vehicle summonses and 158 motor vehicle warnings were issued compared to July when 149 summonses were issued and only 58 warnings were issued. DPW was busy in August with vehicle and equipment repair / maintenance, and road work, and assisting with moving boxes of files at the municipal building.
-We met as the Board of Health and approved a septic system application at Block 34, Lot 6.
-Mayor Jacukowicz and I gave the Committee an update on the Land Use Board’s September 8 meeting. We had 10 zoning applications in the month of August which included 3 solar array projects, an in-ground pool, and a storage shed. We carried amending the construction fees to the next meeting.
-Mark your calendars: the Halloween Trunk or Treat is being held at the Elks Lodge on October 29 from 6:30 – 9 PM.
Saturday September 11: Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken Event
Being a committeeman wouldn’t be complete without attending a cookout / BBQ and the Quakertown Fire Company BBQ Chicken event hit the spot. Besides indulging in delicious chicken and amazing baked beans, I was able to talk to members of the fire company and township residents. These events are fewer far between in our community and that it is a shame- getting to know each other is what makes small towns special; once you lose the connection and communication with your neighbor you might as well live in a lackluster suburb or unforgiving city. To see pictures from the BBQ check out: http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116567
The QFC is holding an Oktoberfest on October 2, for more information check out http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?116570
Monday September 13: Board of Education Meeting
Over 60 people attended this meeting; the BOE provided the public with an update on the construction project. This chart describing the progress made was distributed to the public: http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/FTS_Home_New_files/FTS%20School%20Construction%20Status%20Report%20v4.pdf Superintendent Harttraft told us the list of items that need to be addressed before a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) can be issued. Board members discussed briefly the types of contingency plans they are considering if the school cannot be occupied on September 27. Plenty of residents had questions and for the most part I felt their questions were answered. The next BOE special meeting is scheduled for September 22, 7:30 PM at the firehouse- that meeting will be important because the BOE will announce whether the building is ready or not and if not, what the contingency plans will be in place.
My commentary: Overall I thought the meeting went well; tempers were in check, and I didn’t get the strong feeling that there was a “blame game” going on. Sure there were complaints about bureaucracy, permitting, lackluster field work, and overbearing inspections but anyone who has ever been involved in a construction project knows first hand that “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” As a licensed professional planner I work for the city of Plainfield and part of my job includes working with our construction official with certificate of occupancy inspections. I have inspected many schools and I can attest that the process is tedious because so much is at stake. It is possible for a school to operate and still have the appearance of a construction zone. I visited the school on Saturday the 18th and workers were digging the pits for the water tanks; I happened to meet BOE President Chris Piparo on site and we had an encouraging conversation. I also met with our construction official, mayor, and the school’s general contractor on the 14th to get an update on the permitting process and what is required for a TCO. Going what I have heard and seen, and given my experiences with inspecting schools, I am encouraged and feel that the school could be ready for a TCO by the 27th- it is not impossible, but additional work needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly and correctly. I am hoping for the best and that our children are able to attend classes in Franklin Township on September 27th.
The media continues to cover our school construction project:
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_kids_will_be_in_schoo.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/franklin_township_school_on_tr.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/09/school_officials_promise_frank.html
Monday, September 6, 2010
August 29 - September 4, 2010
I attended a Rural Awareness meeting on Thursday September 2. Those present voted on a new Rural Awareness logo, and discussed in detail the upcoming October 9 Fall Harvest Home Tour. For more information on the home tour check out
http://www.ruralawareness.org/2010_home_tour/2010_tour_release.pdf
==========
Two news articles got my attention this week that I would like to share:
1. "Towns Resist Governor's List of Best Practices"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/towns_resist_governors_list_of.html
Last week all 566 NJ municipalities received from the Department of Community Affairs a "best practices" checklist consisting of 88 questions aimed at learning how local governments operate. All towns are being asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by October 1; if not the State will withhold their final state aid payment for 2010. A copy of the best practices checklist can be found here:
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/fiscal/bud_forms/best_practices_2010.pdf
In a worst case scenario we can lose 5% of our state aid. In calendar year 2010 we are receiving $276,515 in state aid:
http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/muniaid/10_aid/10sosa/1010_ssa_2010.pdf
I have no objections to filing out this questionnaire; even though it's our local tax dollars going to the state, and the state then gives us back some of our money and calls it state aid. One could argue the merits of state aid but right now I am going to make sure that the questionnaire is completed and hopefully we will get all 100% of our state aid, and if not, I will find ways to ensure that we do not take such losses in the future.
===
Article #2: "Surplus Spending Leads to Westfield Bond Rating Drop"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/surplus_spending_leads_to_west.html
Moodys Investor Services downgraded Westfield's bond rating to Aa2 because the town drew down on their surplus funds for 5 consecutive years to compensate for insufficient revenue. I don't know Franklin's bond rating off the top of my head, but I am going to ask our Finance Officer this week. I do know that our entire budget is $3,319,767 and our anticipated surplus for this year is $1,029,000. According to our auditor this surplus amount is acceptable and as long as I am in office I will not approve of unreasonable surplus spending. If Westfield can mess up it can happen to other towns too but I will be vigilant to ensure that it doesn't happen here.
==
The Land Use Board meets this Wednesday and the Town Committee meets on Thursday night- come on out to the municipal building and see how your local officials govern.
http://www.ruralawareness.org/2010_home_tour/2010_tour_release.pdf
==========
Two news articles got my attention this week that I would like to share:
1. "Towns Resist Governor's List of Best Practices"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/towns_resist_governors_list_of.html
Last week all 566 NJ municipalities received from the Department of Community Affairs a "best practices" checklist consisting of 88 questions aimed at learning how local governments operate. All towns are being asked to complete the questionnaire and return it by October 1; if not the State will withhold their final state aid payment for 2010. A copy of the best practices checklist can be found here:
http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/fiscal/bud_forms/best_practices_2010.pdf
In a worst case scenario we can lose 5% of our state aid. In calendar year 2010 we are receiving $276,515 in state aid:
http://www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/muniaid/10_aid/10sosa/1010_ssa_2010.pdf
I have no objections to filing out this questionnaire; even though it's our local tax dollars going to the state, and the state then gives us back some of our money and calls it state aid. One could argue the merits of state aid but right now I am going to make sure that the questionnaire is completed and hopefully we will get all 100% of our state aid, and if not, I will find ways to ensure that we do not take such losses in the future.
===
Article #2: "Surplus Spending Leads to Westfield Bond Rating Drop"
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/09/surplus_spending_leads_to_west.html
Moodys Investor Services downgraded Westfield's bond rating to Aa2 because the town drew down on their surplus funds for 5 consecutive years to compensate for insufficient revenue. I don't know Franklin's bond rating off the top of my head, but I am going to ask our Finance Officer this week. I do know that our entire budget is $3,319,767 and our anticipated surplus for this year is $1,029,000. According to our auditor this surplus amount is acceptable and as long as I am in office I will not approve of unreasonable surplus spending. If Westfield can mess up it can happen to other towns too but I will be vigilant to ensure that it doesn't happen here.
==
The Land Use Board meets this Wednesday and the Town Committee meets on Thursday night- come on out to the municipal building and see how your local officials govern.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)