Thursday May 13 was our regularly scheduled Township Committee meeting. Since the school budget was on the agenda, a change of venue took place- the meeting was held ad the Faith Chapel Wesleyan Church on 43 Lower Landsdown Road. There were perhaps 40-50 people in attendance.
The following Township Committee actions were taken:
1. Adopted meeting minutes (including executive session) for April 22 and April 29, 2010.
2. We approved the Tax Collector's April report for receipts and disbursements: we received $927,746 in taxes, which also include $38,969 in taxes from 2009.
3. We "paid the bills" by approving the check control register for dates 4/22/2010 to 5/13/2010. Big buck items included the 4/23 municipal payroll ($49,714), transfer the tax levy for the county, library, and county open space (total $523,085), transfer the tax levy for the township board of education ($822,374), and transfer the tax levy for the regional high school tax ($546,372).
4. We conducted the school budget hearing. Since the school budget vote, all committee members were very busy meeting / phone calls / emails with the Board of Education, school staff, and residents ; while all of this was taking place the accounting firm Ardito & Co. of Frenchtown examined the budget and identified potential budget reductions and revenue increases. The accountant recommended the following:
a) Increase by $120,000 surplus utilized as revenue. The district anticipates a $100,000 in free fund balance as of 6/30/11, also the district has $20,000 in food service surplus.
b) Transfer $72,248 in interest earnings from the capital projects fund to the debt service fund and use the funds as anticipated revenue in the 2010-2011 debt service budget.
c) Additional appropriation reductions totaling $206,266, including the reduction of 2 full time employees making $70,000 each, and 1 full time employee making $28,069.
The Committee agreed with the accountant’s recommendations and reduced the budget levy from $5,862,688 to $5,464,174 which results in a 2010 school tax increase by $25.65 for every $100,000 of assessed valuation- approximately a $100 increase for a property assessed at $400,000. The proposed school tax increase went from $213.59 additional tax for the average assessed value ($433,500) to $119.19 additional tax- a 55% decrease.
Personal commentary: I came to an initial conclusion that the budget should not be increased at all; I put pen to paper and was initially able to come up with $178,000 in reductions- and that included the 4.3% cut in teacher salaries. The accountant who reviewed the budget earned his $3,000 and provided us with a clear, concise report on how we can reduce the budget using accounting techniques, and by implementing reductions that would have the least impact on the students. I am disappointed that the teachers union did not agree to renegotiate raises or contract but that shoe is yet to drop- next year is a contract year and our fiscal issues may be settled now for 2010-2011 but they are far from over. The school and the committee will have to work together in years to come to explore ways to save money and increase revenue. As always, I welcome your comments.
5. Our Police Director gave his report for April 2010. Ten adult arrests were made, 122 motor vehicle summonses were made, 142 motor vehicle warnings were given.
6. Our DPW Supervisor gave his report for April 2010. Highlights include various DPW and Police vehicle service and repairs, road repairs, and equipment service and repair.
7. Mayor Jacukowicz and I gave our report for Planning, Zoning, and Construction Subcommittee: 6 zoning applications for April, zoning violation letter 4/22 for accessory structure built without a permit (Block 36, Lot 37), zoning violation letter 4/22 for outdoor storage violation (Block 36, Lot 30). Both of these violation letters are public record and are viewable at the Municipal Building.
8. Township Committee approved a resolution certifying the tax levy for the North Hunterdon- Voorhees Regional High School District representing a tax levy reduction of $406,000.
9. Township Committee approved a resolution authorizing the contract for professional services of Ardito and Co., LLP (school budget accountant) for an amount not to exceed $3,000 based upon an hourly rate of $165.00
10. Township Committee acted in the capacity of the Board of Health at which time we heard and approved a series of septic waiver requests for Block 30, Lot 4.
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On May 11 Tim Wahba filed a Notice of Appeal to the Superior Court in Flemington- within the allotted legal time frame for appeal.
Don't forget: May 27 is the public hearing for the municipal budget.
Showing posts with label School Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School Budget. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
May 2 - May 8, 2010
Tuesday May 4 I attended a Board of Education meeting which was originally scheduled as a combined Township Committee / Board of Education meeting to discuss the recently defeated school budget. Here is a link to the meeting announcement:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/05/franklin_twp_committee_cancels.html
I attended the meeting as a member of the public but let's be honest, as a committeeman I wanted to hear what the public had to say about the budget. I will never by-pass an opportunity to hear what the public has to say about any issue. There were probably about 70-90 folks at the meeting and about 30 of them spoke publicly of their support for the school budget and teachers. BOE President Chris Piparo did a splendid job presenting the budget which included new information from the 3/29 public hearing. The link to the BOE webiste is http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/BOE.html but you can't click on many of the budget powerpoint presentations.. disappointing.
The Township Committee is deciding on the budget on at 7:30 PM, Thursday May 13 at the Faith Chapel Wesleyan Church, 43 Lower Landsdown Road http://www.faithchapelwesleyan.com/DIRECTIONS.php
Since the school budget vote I have received many phone calls and emails from Franklin residents; I am diligently gathering information and public opinion and I will be ready to cast my vote on May 13. Even if you have thought about dropping me a line or a emailing me- do so- I've learned a-plenty from our residents.
====
Due to the Board of Education meeting I was not able to attend the Recreation Commission meeting- I have not yet received an update from the Commission on what happened but as soon as I do I will let you all know.
====
Thursday May 6 I attended the monthly Rural Awareness meeting
http://www.ruralawareness.org/
The winners of the annual student essay contest were announced, members were updated on the October House Tour, they agreed to allocate $1,500 for the repair of the little red schoolhouse roof, there was a brief discussion about their mission statement, the Hiram Deats Award, the pros and cons on joining Preservation New Jersey, and the recent removal of 2 Norway maple trees in front of the municipal building. I really enjoy attending the Rural Awareness meetings- even if I weren't in public office I would be a part of Rural Awareness- they do good work and they care about Franklin.
====
Of note: it's pothole season... you don't need a hunting license and there is no limit.. if you notice potholes on township roads report it by contacting Public Works manager Alan Dilley at 908-735-8384. When he gets a call a crew goes out there and fixes it. We have about 35 miles of township roads that Alan and his crew does an excellent job maintaining them. To report a pothole on a county road call the Department of Roads and Bridges at 908-788-1178; for potholes on state highways call 800-768-4653.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/05/franklin_twp_committee_cancels.html
I attended the meeting as a member of the public but let's be honest, as a committeeman I wanted to hear what the public had to say about the budget. I will never by-pass an opportunity to hear what the public has to say about any issue. There were probably about 70-90 folks at the meeting and about 30 of them spoke publicly of their support for the school budget and teachers. BOE President Chris Piparo did a splendid job presenting the budget which included new information from the 3/29 public hearing. The link to the BOE webiste is http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/BOE.html but you can't click on many of the budget powerpoint presentations.. disappointing.
The Township Committee is deciding on the budget on at 7:30 PM, Thursday May 13 at the Faith Chapel Wesleyan Church, 43 Lower Landsdown Road http://www.faithchapelwesleyan.com/DIRECTIONS.php
Since the school budget vote I have received many phone calls and emails from Franklin residents; I am diligently gathering information and public opinion and I will be ready to cast my vote on May 13. Even if you have thought about dropping me a line or a emailing me- do so- I've learned a-plenty from our residents.
====
Due to the Board of Education meeting I was not able to attend the Recreation Commission meeting- I have not yet received an update from the Commission on what happened but as soon as I do I will let you all know.
====
Thursday May 6 I attended the monthly Rural Awareness meeting
http://www.ruralawareness.org/
The winners of the annual student essay contest were announced, members were updated on the October House Tour, they agreed to allocate $1,500 for the repair of the little red schoolhouse roof, there was a brief discussion about their mission statement, the Hiram Deats Award, the pros and cons on joining Preservation New Jersey, and the recent removal of 2 Norway maple trees in front of the municipal building. I really enjoy attending the Rural Awareness meetings- even if I weren't in public office I would be a part of Rural Awareness- they do good work and they care about Franklin.
====
Of note: it's pothole season... you don't need a hunting license and there is no limit.. if you notice potholes on township roads report it by contacting Public Works manager Alan Dilley at 908-735-8384. When he gets a call a crew goes out there and fixes it. We have about 35 miles of township roads that Alan and his crew does an excellent job maintaining them. To report a pothole on a county road call the Department of Roads and Bridges at 908-788-1178; for potholes on state highways call 800-768-4653.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 18 - April 24, 2010
The big news of the week is that the school budget was defeated. Here is a link to all of the results in Hunterdon County:
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/04/hunterdon_county_school_board_2.html
For those too lazy to link:
FRANKLIN : THREE 3-YEAR TERMS
√ James J. Foran 470 √ Kimberly V. Lundgren 449 √ Robert J. Masino 415
ONE 2-YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM
No candidates filed (I believe Colleen Ewing won this seat)
SCHOOL BUDGET: Yes 249 √ No 480
PROPOSED TAX LEVY INCREASE: 5.5 percent; $213 for a home assessed at $433,500
PROPOSED STAFF CUTS: 2 positions
In the case of a defeated budget the Board of Education submits their spending plan to the Township Committee for review; unless the Board appeals our decision the school district must reduce spending by the amount recommended by the Committee. The Committee can make suggestions about which programs or personnel should be adjusted, but the Board can make their own decision about what to adjust, as long as the same amount of money is saved.
While I will scrutinize each line item to identify specific budget cuts, I will be sensitive to the obligation to provide a thorough education for all school age children. I also encourage our school union leadership to discuss the possibility of opening contracts for changes that could lead to budget savings and possible state aid increases. I want to hear what Franklin taxpayers have to say about the school budget situation: use this blog to comment, or email me at scottsbauman@gmail.com.
The first public meeting between the Board of Education and the Township Committee is scheduled for May 4 at 7:30 PM in the municipal building. If you care about a $5,205,628 school budget and you want to be heard by your elected officials, you may wish to Tivo the baseball game / ice hockey playoffs and mosey on down to the municipal building.
====
On Tuesday April 20 Mayor Jacukowicz and I met with our Finance Director to go over the municipal budget and salary ordinance. The municipal budget represents a zero tax increase from last year while keeping an adequate amount of surplus that keeps our auditor comfortable. The budget was formally announced on April 22 and it is scheduled for the public hearing and hopeful adoption on May 27. The budget is now available for public consumption and comment; contact the Township Clerk to review the document; it will also be published in the Hunterdon Democrat.
====
Thursday April 22 was our Committee work session meeting. Prior to the work session we held executive session to discuss an ongoing personnel matter; that matter was carried to another executive session that will be held on April 29, 7:30 PM:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/TC-agendas-minutes/2010/TC_agenda042910.pdf
Our work session consisted of the following:
1. Approved regular meeting and executive session meeting minutes from 3/22, 4/1, and 4/8.
2. A few members of the public commented on the defeated school budget.
3. We approved the check register: aka we paid the bills. Of note included $1,654.25 for disposing the items received from the March household cleanup, $2,557.49 in snowplow parts, $800.00 to Hunterdon County for health inspections, and $1,160.99 for ammunition for the Police Department.
4. As previously mentioned we introduced our municipal budget for FY 2011
5. Ordinance 2010-02 proposing to amend Ch. 75 of our code "Police Department" is scheduled for May 13.
6. Police Director / OEM Coordinator Ken Mandoli reported that the Hamden Road work is complete and the "state of emergency" can be lifted.
7. Public Works: The Committee approved the lowest bid of $12.255.00 for the construction of a new 30' x 36'Pioneer Pole building to replace the building decimated by one of recent storms. We collected about $6,000 from the insurance company for the destroyed building- that helped sooth some of the $12,000 plus sting. The new building will be at Locust Grove and should be constructed soon.. so go check out your new building!
8. Building Department: Our Construction Official reported that between January and March 2010 he issued 57 permits and collected $13,807.00. This is an increase from last Jan-March 2009 when he issued 40 permits and collected $9,809.00.
9. Land Use: Mayor Jacukowicz and myself updated the Committee on the recent work session held by the Land Use Board. Ordinance 2010-03 amending Land Use, Subdivision & Site Plan, and Surface Water Management is still tabled pending attorney review. I informed the Committee on the need to authorize our Township Engineer to meet with the DEP about Rogers Pond. Rogers Pond is owned by the Township and contains a dam; the DEP is beginning to crack down on enforcing rules concerning dam maintenance so our Engineer felt it was important for him to meet with the DEP so as to avoid future situations where we will be fined for maintenance issues. As soon as I hear more you will too.
10. Committeeman McGeary and I will be working on getting the word of the septic maintenance ordinance out to the residents. Expect an easy to fill out application in your July tax bill as well as information in the upcoming township newsletter.
11. We approved 2 raffle applications for the township school... both are scheduled for June 17- one is a tricky tray, and the other is for a fire truck ride to school. How cool is that?
===
Another busy week in the life of a Township Committeeman.. and another week informing the residents what I am up to. Until next Sunday.....
Scott
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/04/hunterdon_county_school_board_2.html
For those too lazy to link:
FRANKLIN : THREE 3-YEAR TERMS
√ James J. Foran 470 √ Kimberly V. Lundgren 449 √ Robert J. Masino 415
ONE 2-YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM
No candidates filed (I believe Colleen Ewing won this seat)
SCHOOL BUDGET: Yes 249 √ No 480
PROPOSED TAX LEVY INCREASE: 5.5 percent; $213 for a home assessed at $433,500
PROPOSED STAFF CUTS: 2 positions
In the case of a defeated budget the Board of Education submits their spending plan to the Township Committee for review; unless the Board appeals our decision the school district must reduce spending by the amount recommended by the Committee. The Committee can make suggestions about which programs or personnel should be adjusted, but the Board can make their own decision about what to adjust, as long as the same amount of money is saved.
While I will scrutinize each line item to identify specific budget cuts, I will be sensitive to the obligation to provide a thorough education for all school age children. I also encourage our school union leadership to discuss the possibility of opening contracts for changes that could lead to budget savings and possible state aid increases. I want to hear what Franklin taxpayers have to say about the school budget situation: use this blog to comment, or email me at scottsbauman@gmail.com.
The first public meeting between the Board of Education and the Township Committee is scheduled for May 4 at 7:30 PM in the municipal building. If you care about a $5,205,628 school budget and you want to be heard by your elected officials, you may wish to Tivo the baseball game / ice hockey playoffs and mosey on down to the municipal building.
====
On Tuesday April 20 Mayor Jacukowicz and I met with our Finance Director to go over the municipal budget and salary ordinance. The municipal budget represents a zero tax increase from last year while keeping an adequate amount of surplus that keeps our auditor comfortable. The budget was formally announced on April 22 and it is scheduled for the public hearing and hopeful adoption on May 27. The budget is now available for public consumption and comment; contact the Township Clerk to review the document; it will also be published in the Hunterdon Democrat.
====
Thursday April 22 was our Committee work session meeting. Prior to the work session we held executive session to discuss an ongoing personnel matter; that matter was carried to another executive session that will be held on April 29, 7:30 PM:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/TC-agendas-minutes/2010/TC_agenda042910.pdf
Our work session consisted of the following:
1. Approved regular meeting and executive session meeting minutes from 3/22, 4/1, and 4/8.
2. A few members of the public commented on the defeated school budget.
3. We approved the check register: aka we paid the bills. Of note included $1,654.25 for disposing the items received from the March household cleanup, $2,557.49 in snowplow parts, $800.00 to Hunterdon County for health inspections, and $1,160.99 for ammunition for the Police Department.
4. As previously mentioned we introduced our municipal budget for FY 2011
5. Ordinance 2010-02 proposing to amend Ch. 75 of our code "Police Department" is scheduled for May 13.
6. Police Director / OEM Coordinator Ken Mandoli reported that the Hamden Road work is complete and the "state of emergency" can be lifted.
7. Public Works: The Committee approved the lowest bid of $12.255.00 for the construction of a new 30' x 36'Pioneer Pole building to replace the building decimated by one of recent storms. We collected about $6,000 from the insurance company for the destroyed building- that helped sooth some of the $12,000 plus sting. The new building will be at Locust Grove and should be constructed soon.. so go check out your new building!
8. Building Department: Our Construction Official reported that between January and March 2010 he issued 57 permits and collected $13,807.00. This is an increase from last Jan-March 2009 when he issued 40 permits and collected $9,809.00.
9. Land Use: Mayor Jacukowicz and myself updated the Committee on the recent work session held by the Land Use Board. Ordinance 2010-03 amending Land Use, Subdivision & Site Plan, and Surface Water Management is still tabled pending attorney review. I informed the Committee on the need to authorize our Township Engineer to meet with the DEP about Rogers Pond. Rogers Pond is owned by the Township and contains a dam; the DEP is beginning to crack down on enforcing rules concerning dam maintenance so our Engineer felt it was important for him to meet with the DEP so as to avoid future situations where we will be fined for maintenance issues. As soon as I hear more you will too.
10. Committeeman McGeary and I will be working on getting the word of the septic maintenance ordinance out to the residents. Expect an easy to fill out application in your July tax bill as well as information in the upcoming township newsletter.
11. We approved 2 raffle applications for the township school... both are scheduled for June 17- one is a tricky tray, and the other is for a fire truck ride to school. How cool is that?
===
Another busy week in the life of a Township Committeeman.. and another week informing the residents what I am up to. Until next Sunday.....
Scott
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April 4 - April 10, 2010
April 4 – April 10
Looks like spring has finally sprung; I have been able to drive to and from work with the convertible top down, farmers are tilling their fields, and daylight hours are getting a little longer. Hooray for spring!
Tuesday, April 6 Deputy Mayor McGeary and I met with representatives of the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) to discuss their concerns over proposed Ordinance 2010-03 which amends a few sections of our Township Code, specifically Chapter 310 “Subdivision and Site Plan”, and Chapter 316 “Surface Water Management”. The AAC expressed their opposition to the Ordinance, and after our meeting it was apparent that this ordinance as written did not have the best interest of the agriculture community in mind. The short story is the proposal would exempt certain agricultural practices from site plan approval unless the practice has been “deemed to be a Generally Accepted Agricultural Practice” (AMP) as defined by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), or a “Site Specific Agricultural Management Practice” as defined by the Hunterdon County Agricultural Boa
What does this mean in plain English? If a farmer proposes a farming practice that doesn’t already fit in the “right to farm” ordinance already on our books, and if it isn’t recognized by the State or County, then the farmer is required to obtain site plan approval for the farming activity. Here is the kicker: the SADC has only defined ten (10) AMPs- you can see them here:
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/rtfprogram/amps/adoptedamps/index.html
And here is a link showing a list of county AMPS:
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/rtfprogram/amps/siteamps/determinations.html
If the farming practice is not on either of these lists, then the practice needs site plan approval. AAC members expressed the hardships in having to apply for site plan approval and the hardships associated with introducing an AMP to the State or County Agriculture Committees for acceptance- all daunting tasks and something that Township Committee members were not familiar with. In light of our meeting with the AAC Deputy Mayor McGeary and I felt compelled to request that the Township Committee hold off on voting on Ordinance 2010-03 until we can consul with our township attorney on the proposed language and to see how we can work with the AAC on possibly tweaking the ordinance so it is acceptable.
=========
Later that same evening the Recreation Commission held their monthly meeting. Five members were present; items on the agenda included a wrap up on the successful Easter Egg Hunt, preparation for the April 18 fishing derby, and some preliminary planning for the summer recreation program (July 12 through July 23). For more information on the summer program, check out page 3 of the most recent township newsletter at:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/Newsletters/Jan-Mar-2010.pdf
Here is the application form for the summer program:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/Franklin_Township_Recreation_registration_school.pdf
As the Recreation Commission liaison to the Township Committee, I am dedicated to communicating the needs, goals, and “anything else that comes to mind” of the Recreation Commission to the Town Committee; if I didn’t do so I wouldn’t be doing my job. The Recreation Commission has some great volunteers who deserve to be recognized for their endeavors and encouraged to reach for new goals and accomplishments as well.
============
Thursday April 8 was our Township Committee meeting was kind of on the short side- I’ll make this as painless as possible! We approved the meeting minutes from 3/25/10, and agreed to carry Ordinance 2010-03 to May 13 (see April 6 for info on 2010-03).
President of the Franklin Board of Education Chris Piparo gave us a 20 minute presentation on the school budget and an update on the school addition construction.
We adopted resolution 2010-29 that refunded some overpaid taxes to a resident (whoops!).
We authorized payment of the bills ($196,359.93)- I have found payment of the bills one of the more interesting aspects of my job- you get to see every expenditure like energy bills, equipment costs, payroll, etc. The check control register is public information and at every meeting a copy of this check control register is available for public review and questioning. The Committee decided that until the new budget is passed, all expenditures over $200 must be reviewed and approved by the respective subcommittee- this practice might just continue once the new budget is passed- not a bad practice if you ask me.
We adopted Resolution 2010-30 establishing a tax sale date of May 11, 2010- if you are on “the list”- you know what list I am talking about… you have until May 11 to pay what is owed!
We passed a resolution supporting “Click It or Ticket Mobilization of May 24 – June 6, 2010”. We reviewed Police Director Ken Mandoli’s monthly report for March 2010, highlights include 13 animal complaints, 12 motor vehicle accidents, 11 false alarms, 6 assists to the Rescue Squad, 4 motor vehicle assists, 4 warrants served, and 2 assists to the Fire Company. 109 motor vehicle summonses and 157 warnings were issued. There were 5 adult arrests and 1 juvenile arrest.
Chief Bradley Patkochis of the Quakertown Fire Company provided the Committee with a report on 1st quarter 2010 EMS activity- 33 calls between January and March with an average response time of 6 minutes 20 seconds; Chief Patkochis noted that this is over a 50% reduction in response time over the same time period in 2008.
DPW Supervisor Alan Dilley provided the Committee with his March 2010 monthly report. The employees have been busy with equipment maintenance and repair, and generally preparing for the busy spring schedule of brush/tree trimming and mowing and road maintenance. We had a storage building damaged during one of the storms and after receiving 3 proposals, Alan presented us with a quote of $12,255.00 for a replacement 30’x36’x10 pole barn building. The insurance company reimbursed us $6,000.00 for the destroyed building. The dollar amount is under the bid and prevailing wage threshold.
Zoning and Construction has been pretty quiet- only 10 zoning permits issued between January and March . Hopefully construction activity will pick up in the warmer months ahead. I provided the Committee with a summary of the 3/29 Environmental Commission meeting and the 4/6 Recreation Commission meeting. Mayor Jacukowicz appointed Kevin Suydam to the Recreation Commission- congratulations Kevin I look forward to working with you.
We approved raffle license #64 for the Rotary Club of Flemington to hold a 50/50 cash raffle on September 18, 2010 at 3pm at the Clinton Elks Club- the big prizes being 1st prize up to $7,000, 2nd prize up to $2,000, and 3rd prize up to $1,000. Nice!
===========
As I finish my first quarter of 2010- 1/12th of my 3 year term as your Committeeman, I am thoroughly enjoying myself. It is an honor to be part of democracy; perhaps I can improve the image of elected officials… I have learned a lot since January and there is much more to accomplish. The learning curve can be intimidating at times when one is not familiar with the subject matter.
Please don’t be shy about reaching out to me with your concerns around town. Please remember to vote on the school budget on April 20.
Scott
Looks like spring has finally sprung; I have been able to drive to and from work with the convertible top down, farmers are tilling their fields, and daylight hours are getting a little longer. Hooray for spring!
Tuesday, April 6 Deputy Mayor McGeary and I met with representatives of the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) to discuss their concerns over proposed Ordinance 2010-03 which amends a few sections of our Township Code, specifically Chapter 310 “Subdivision and Site Plan”, and Chapter 316 “Surface Water Management”. The AAC expressed their opposition to the Ordinance, and after our meeting it was apparent that this ordinance as written did not have the best interest of the agriculture community in mind. The short story is the proposal would exempt certain agricultural practices from site plan approval unless the practice has been “deemed to be a Generally Accepted Agricultural Practice” (AMP) as defined by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), or a “Site Specific Agricultural Management Practice” as defined by the Hunterdon County Agricultural Boa
What does this mean in plain English? If a farmer proposes a farming practice that doesn’t already fit in the “right to farm” ordinance already on our books, and if it isn’t recognized by the State or County, then the farmer is required to obtain site plan approval for the farming activity. Here is the kicker: the SADC has only defined ten (10) AMPs- you can see them here:
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/rtfprogram/amps/adoptedamps/index.html
And here is a link showing a list of county AMPS:
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/rtfprogram/amps/siteamps/determinations.html
If the farming practice is not on either of these lists, then the practice needs site plan approval. AAC members expressed the hardships in having to apply for site plan approval and the hardships associated with introducing an AMP to the State or County Agriculture Committees for acceptance- all daunting tasks and something that Township Committee members were not familiar with. In light of our meeting with the AAC Deputy Mayor McGeary and I felt compelled to request that the Township Committee hold off on voting on Ordinance 2010-03 until we can consul with our township attorney on the proposed language and to see how we can work with the AAC on possibly tweaking the ordinance so it is acceptable.
=========
Later that same evening the Recreation Commission held their monthly meeting. Five members were present; items on the agenda included a wrap up on the successful Easter Egg Hunt, preparation for the April 18 fishing derby, and some preliminary planning for the summer recreation program (July 12 through July 23). For more information on the summer program, check out page 3 of the most recent township newsletter at:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/Newsletters/Jan-Mar-2010.pdf
Here is the application form for the summer program:
http://www.franklin-twp.org/Franklin_Township_Recreation_registration_school.pdf
As the Recreation Commission liaison to the Township Committee, I am dedicated to communicating the needs, goals, and “anything else that comes to mind” of the Recreation Commission to the Town Committee; if I didn’t do so I wouldn’t be doing my job. The Recreation Commission has some great volunteers who deserve to be recognized for their endeavors and encouraged to reach for new goals and accomplishments as well.
============
Thursday April 8 was our Township Committee meeting was kind of on the short side- I’ll make this as painless as possible! We approved the meeting minutes from 3/25/10, and agreed to carry Ordinance 2010-03 to May 13 (see April 6 for info on 2010-03).
President of the Franklin Board of Education Chris Piparo gave us a 20 minute presentation on the school budget and an update on the school addition construction.
We adopted resolution 2010-29 that refunded some overpaid taxes to a resident (whoops!).
We authorized payment of the bills ($196,359.93)- I have found payment of the bills one of the more interesting aspects of my job- you get to see every expenditure like energy bills, equipment costs, payroll, etc. The check control register is public information and at every meeting a copy of this check control register is available for public review and questioning. The Committee decided that until the new budget is passed, all expenditures over $200 must be reviewed and approved by the respective subcommittee- this practice might just continue once the new budget is passed- not a bad practice if you ask me.
We adopted Resolution 2010-30 establishing a tax sale date of May 11, 2010- if you are on “the list”- you know what list I am talking about… you have until May 11 to pay what is owed!
We passed a resolution supporting “Click It or Ticket Mobilization of May 24 – June 6, 2010”. We reviewed Police Director Ken Mandoli’s monthly report for March 2010, highlights include 13 animal complaints, 12 motor vehicle accidents, 11 false alarms, 6 assists to the Rescue Squad, 4 motor vehicle assists, 4 warrants served, and 2 assists to the Fire Company. 109 motor vehicle summonses and 157 warnings were issued. There were 5 adult arrests and 1 juvenile arrest.
Chief Bradley Patkochis of the Quakertown Fire Company provided the Committee with a report on 1st quarter 2010 EMS activity- 33 calls between January and March with an average response time of 6 minutes 20 seconds; Chief Patkochis noted that this is over a 50% reduction in response time over the same time period in 2008.
DPW Supervisor Alan Dilley provided the Committee with his March 2010 monthly report. The employees have been busy with equipment maintenance and repair, and generally preparing for the busy spring schedule of brush/tree trimming and mowing and road maintenance. We had a storage building damaged during one of the storms and after receiving 3 proposals, Alan presented us with a quote of $12,255.00 for a replacement 30’x36’x10 pole barn building. The insurance company reimbursed us $6,000.00 for the destroyed building. The dollar amount is under the bid and prevailing wage threshold.
Zoning and Construction has been pretty quiet- only 10 zoning permits issued between January and March . Hopefully construction activity will pick up in the warmer months ahead. I provided the Committee with a summary of the 3/29 Environmental Commission meeting and the 4/6 Recreation Commission meeting. Mayor Jacukowicz appointed Kevin Suydam to the Recreation Commission- congratulations Kevin I look forward to working with you.
We approved raffle license #64 for the Rotary Club of Flemington to hold a 50/50 cash raffle on September 18, 2010 at 3pm at the Clinton Elks Club- the big prizes being 1st prize up to $7,000, 2nd prize up to $2,000, and 3rd prize up to $1,000. Nice!
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As I finish my first quarter of 2010- 1/12th of my 3 year term as your Committeeman, I am thoroughly enjoying myself. It is an honor to be part of democracy; perhaps I can improve the image of elected officials… I have learned a lot since January and there is much more to accomplish. The learning curve can be intimidating at times when one is not familiar with the subject matter.
Please don’t be shy about reaching out to me with your concerns around town. Please remember to vote on the school budget on April 20.
Scott
Sunday, April 4, 2010
March 21 – 27, 2010
Wednesday March 24 was our Land Use Board meeting; several use variance applications were heard by the Board. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts because I am on the Town Committee I cannot hear use variance applications… reason being should the use variance be appealed the appeal goes to the Town Committee and I cannot hear an appeal on a decision that I participated in making. For the record the Land Use Board continued their public hearing for a use variance for a wireless communication tower on Block 41, Lot 4 (Oak Grove Road), and began a new hearing to add wireless antennae and equipment shed to an existing tower located at Block 28, Lot 19- the Quakertown Recreation Club. The next Land Use Board meeting is being held on April 14- a workshop session that will discuss the proposed lighting ordinance, solar panel ordinance, status of our COAH plan, Board budget, and a review of the 2010 Action Plan.
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Thursday March 25 was our Town Committee meeting; our first order of business was to approve a resolution suspending police officer Tim Wahba with pay, nunc pro tunc, effective 3/22/10 pending resolutions of a personnel matter. Although I performed poorly when I took the law school “LSAT” entrance test- twice, I am still fascinated by the law, particularly those fancy Latin phrases that roll off the tongue.. in this case what does “nunc pro tunc” mean? According to Wikipedia, nunc pro tunc means “A judgment nunc pro tunc is an action by a trial court correcting a clerical (rather than judicial) error in a prior judgment. A nunc pro tunc may be signed even after the trial court loses its plenary power. For appellate purposes, a nunc pro tunc judgment correctly taken ordinarily does not extend appellate deadlines.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_pro_tunc A little over my head; glad I am a planner and not an attorney.
Here is the link to the Hunterdon Democrat news article:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/04/franklin_twp_committee_votes_i.html
Apparently the editors at the Democrat were not happy with the 3/22/10 proceedings and said so in their editorial comments:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/03/franklin_twp_was_too_slow_in_a.html
I can offer very little editorial on the matter: personnel matters are icky at best; if Franklin were a private corporation none of this would be public and rightfully so, but since we are a public entity we need to be forthright and transparent (yes, there’s that word again). As a NJ municipality we must abide by New Jersey Statutes Annotated N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 which sets the rules for public meetings. One portion of that statute allows us to meet privately in very clearly defined instances: as a public entity we may meet in closed session when the matters under discussion (1) are considered confidential by federal law, state statute or court rule, (2) would jeopardize receipt of federal funds, (3) constitute an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy, (4) concern collective bargaining, (5) involve purchase, lease or investment using public funds, or concern the setting of banking rates, (6) concern investigations of violations or possible violations of the law, or techniques of protecting the safety and property of the public, where disclosure of such techniques could impair such protection, (7) are covered by the attorney-client privilege, (8) concern personnel, or (9) involve certain proceedings which could result in a civil penalty, suspension, or loss of license.
Committee members must keep discussions held in executive session private so long as discretion is necessary to protect the municipal interest. In this case involving Officer Wahba we are entitled to closed, confidential sessions; and I will uphold the interests of Officer Wahba and Franklin Township by refraining from commenting until the matter is closed. After the matter is closed the executive session meeting minutes are made public and all parties involved are free to comment; until that day arrives I will not be making comments on this matter.
In other Committee business we did the following:
1. Adopted meeting minutes from a) March 1 (executive session), b) March 11, c) and March 15 (budget session and executive session).
2. Proposed Ordinance 2010-02 “Amending Chapter 75 of the Code entitled “Police Department” was carried to April 22- and will be re-noticed. Why wasn’t it heard? While I can’t speak for the rest of the Committee members I can say that I found a few omissions with the word substitutions but the part I have issue with is part “e” of the ordinance which proposes to eliminate the sentence “Such orders shall be subject to the approval of the Township Committee”. I want to know why we are eliminating our ability to approve / disapprove the orders of the Police Director- if we are surrendering our power I would like to know the reason. In all fairness this proposed ordinance was prepared by our previous municipal attorney Bill Caldwell, our new attorney Valerie Kimson has not had a chance to review the proposal so it is just as well that we carry it so it can be properly vetted and explained.
3. Approved payment of bills through 3/25/10 in the amount of $159,184.50
4. For the month ending February 2010 we approved receipt of $2,140,466.55 (taxes).
5. Adopted Resolution 2010-27 which transferred excess funds in certain 2009 “reserve appropriation accounts” into other accounts. These transfers between appropriations totaled $14,420 and involved 12 different accounts. For the sake of brevity I will leave it at that, if you would like to know more either contact me or the Township Clerk and ask to see a copy of Resolution 2010-27.
6. Adopted Resolution 2010-28 which was for the redemption of an outside lien, tax sale certificate for Block 29, Lot 11.01.
7. Police and Public Safety Report: Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli reported that the township sustained some damage during the recent rainstorm. Damage consisted of erosion of Hamden Road and Lower Landsdown Road, and damage to a public works accessory shed at the public works yard on Locust Grove Road. Damage is estimated at $70,000 for the road erosion damage, and $15,000 for the public works structure- $8,000 to be covered by our insurance company. How the road damage will be paid for is still in question- we are requesting “declaration of emergency” funds from the county and we are looking to work with the Water Authority and the County Roads Department on sharing the costs.
8. Adopted Resolution 2010-26 which transfers the liquor license of Clinton Wine and Spirits at WalMart Plaza from #57 WalMart Plaza to #20 WalMart Plaza….basically the liquor store is moving from its present location to the location of the former Hollywood Video on the lower level of the shopping center.
9. Public Works Report. Public Works Director Alan Dilley is requesting that the shed that was damaged during the rainstorm be demolished and replaced. Committeeman Robert Shockley will work with Alan on obtaining plans and ideas for a new shed. Alan also reported that he is working with the residents on Samuel Wilson Road resident regarding snow plow damage.
10. Adopted Resolution 2010-19 approving to discard / salvage 3 items for scrap value: a 1970s era military generator, a 1998 four door Ford vehicle, and a 2004 four door vehicle. We were given assurance that the 2 cars have been thoroughly been picked through and parts have been salvaged, there is very little worth to these cars besides the scrap value.
11. Adopted Resolution 2010-03A authorizing contract for professional services for legal advice and services to Valerie Kimson, Esq. Payment is $140 per hour with the exception that legal services for litigation which is $150 per hour. Paralegal time is billed at $75 per hour. The contract is through December 31, 2010.
12. Planning, Zoning & Construction Report: I updated the Committee on the Land Use Board applications and mentioned that the Board wants the Committee to consider the lighting ordinance that was sent to them last year. I will be providing the Committee with a copy of the lighting ordinance and we will discuss it very soon. The Board is also working on a solar panel ordinance which we should be seeing soon as well.
13. Discussion on Ordinance 2010-03 which addresses storm water management and agricultural uses of land. The Agricultural Advisory Board does not support the proposal; the Land Use Board supports the proposal. Committeeman McGeary and I are planning to meet with members of the Ag Advisory Board to see what they object to and how we can address their concerns.
14. Health, Recreation and Environmental Commission Report: The Environmental Commission meets March 29 but I will not be able to attend due to a Board of Education meeting. The Recreation Commission planned an Easter egg hunt on April 2 at the South Ridge Community Church. Commission members objected to the township having 2 egg hunts- theirs and the one sponsored by the Police Department and Clinton Elks. I had over 20 emails back and forth between myself and members of the Recreation Commission regarding this topic. If half the amount of emails went back and forth between the Recreation Commission and the Police Department perhaps there wouldn’t be the lack of communication issue that I keep bringing up. Regardless, the town is big enough for 2 egg hunts- I will be attending the April 2 hunt and look forward to comparing them both…in this case.. instead of apples to apples.. it will be eggs to eggs.
15. Approved Raffle License Application RA 5 for Bonnie Brae Polo Event June 23, 2010 http://www.fieldviewfarm.com/
16. Municipal Court: Committeeman Steve Tarshis reported court receipts for February were $3,611.50 in fines, and $3,265.44 in costs.
17. School Report: there is a school budget (2010-2011) meeting being held on March 29 at the school building. I plan on attending. Check out http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/BOE.html scroll down and look under “Other Board Related Documents”
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Saturday March 27 I attended the Quakertown Fire Company public information session with my son, Ryan.
http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?104568
I received very personal attention because I was the only one in attendance. What a shame; the session was very informative and the volunteers on hand were helpful and supportive. At the fire district budget hearing there were at least 100 people present, it very unfortunate that the public information sessions were poorly attended. I salute the Fire Company for hosting 3 information sessions despite the lack of public interest and hope that they continue to persevere in keeping the community informed on their operations.
After the Fire Company public information session my son and I attended an Easter egg hunt sponsored by the Franklin Township Police and the Clinton Elks on Sydney Road. I would estimate there were at least 150 kids in attendance, throw in the parents there were at least 250 persons. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times, of perhaps next time the Fire Company wants more people to attend their meetings they should hide Easter eggs around the fire house. Regardless, Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli, the police department, and the Clinton Elks did a great job hosting a wonderful and safe egg hunt for all ages.
=====
Thursday March 25 was our Town Committee meeting; our first order of business was to approve a resolution suspending police officer Tim Wahba with pay, nunc pro tunc, effective 3/22/10 pending resolutions of a personnel matter. Although I performed poorly when I took the law school “LSAT” entrance test- twice, I am still fascinated by the law, particularly those fancy Latin phrases that roll off the tongue.. in this case what does “nunc pro tunc” mean? According to Wikipedia, nunc pro tunc means “A judgment nunc pro tunc is an action by a trial court correcting a clerical (rather than judicial) error in a prior judgment. A nunc pro tunc may be signed even after the trial court loses its plenary power. For appellate purposes, a nunc pro tunc judgment correctly taken ordinarily does not extend appellate deadlines.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunc_pro_tunc A little over my head; glad I am a planner and not an attorney.
Here is the link to the Hunterdon Democrat news article:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/04/franklin_twp_committee_votes_i.html
Apparently the editors at the Democrat were not happy with the 3/22/10 proceedings and said so in their editorial comments:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/03/franklin_twp_was_too_slow_in_a.html
I can offer very little editorial on the matter: personnel matters are icky at best; if Franklin were a private corporation none of this would be public and rightfully so, but since we are a public entity we need to be forthright and transparent (yes, there’s that word again). As a NJ municipality we must abide by New Jersey Statutes Annotated N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 which sets the rules for public meetings. One portion of that statute allows us to meet privately in very clearly defined instances: as a public entity we may meet in closed session when the matters under discussion (1) are considered confidential by federal law, state statute or court rule, (2) would jeopardize receipt of federal funds, (3) constitute an unwarranted invasion of individual privacy, (4) concern collective bargaining, (5) involve purchase, lease or investment using public funds, or concern the setting of banking rates, (6) concern investigations of violations or possible violations of the law, or techniques of protecting the safety and property of the public, where disclosure of such techniques could impair such protection, (7) are covered by the attorney-client privilege, (8) concern personnel, or (9) involve certain proceedings which could result in a civil penalty, suspension, or loss of license.
Committee members must keep discussions held in executive session private so long as discretion is necessary to protect the municipal interest. In this case involving Officer Wahba we are entitled to closed, confidential sessions; and I will uphold the interests of Officer Wahba and Franklin Township by refraining from commenting until the matter is closed. After the matter is closed the executive session meeting minutes are made public and all parties involved are free to comment; until that day arrives I will not be making comments on this matter.
In other Committee business we did the following:
1. Adopted meeting minutes from a) March 1 (executive session), b) March 11, c) and March 15 (budget session and executive session).
2. Proposed Ordinance 2010-02 “Amending Chapter 75 of the Code entitled “Police Department” was carried to April 22- and will be re-noticed. Why wasn’t it heard? While I can’t speak for the rest of the Committee members I can say that I found a few omissions with the word substitutions but the part I have issue with is part “e” of the ordinance which proposes to eliminate the sentence “Such orders shall be subject to the approval of the Township Committee”. I want to know why we are eliminating our ability to approve / disapprove the orders of the Police Director- if we are surrendering our power I would like to know the reason. In all fairness this proposed ordinance was prepared by our previous municipal attorney Bill Caldwell, our new attorney Valerie Kimson has not had a chance to review the proposal so it is just as well that we carry it so it can be properly vetted and explained.
3. Approved payment of bills through 3/25/10 in the amount of $159,184.50
4. For the month ending February 2010 we approved receipt of $2,140,466.55 (taxes).
5. Adopted Resolution 2010-27 which transferred excess funds in certain 2009 “reserve appropriation accounts” into other accounts. These transfers between appropriations totaled $14,420 and involved 12 different accounts. For the sake of brevity I will leave it at that, if you would like to know more either contact me or the Township Clerk and ask to see a copy of Resolution 2010-27.
6. Adopted Resolution 2010-28 which was for the redemption of an outside lien, tax sale certificate for Block 29, Lot 11.01.
7. Police and Public Safety Report: Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli reported that the township sustained some damage during the recent rainstorm. Damage consisted of erosion of Hamden Road and Lower Landsdown Road, and damage to a public works accessory shed at the public works yard on Locust Grove Road. Damage is estimated at $70,000 for the road erosion damage, and $15,000 for the public works structure- $8,000 to be covered by our insurance company. How the road damage will be paid for is still in question- we are requesting “declaration of emergency” funds from the county and we are looking to work with the Water Authority and the County Roads Department on sharing the costs.
8. Adopted Resolution 2010-26 which transfers the liquor license of Clinton Wine and Spirits at WalMart Plaza from #57 WalMart Plaza to #20 WalMart Plaza….basically the liquor store is moving from its present location to the location of the former Hollywood Video on the lower level of the shopping center.
9. Public Works Report. Public Works Director Alan Dilley is requesting that the shed that was damaged during the rainstorm be demolished and replaced. Committeeman Robert Shockley will work with Alan on obtaining plans and ideas for a new shed. Alan also reported that he is working with the residents on Samuel Wilson Road resident regarding snow plow damage.
10. Adopted Resolution 2010-19 approving to discard / salvage 3 items for scrap value: a 1970s era military generator, a 1998 four door Ford vehicle, and a 2004 four door vehicle. We were given assurance that the 2 cars have been thoroughly been picked through and parts have been salvaged, there is very little worth to these cars besides the scrap value.
11. Adopted Resolution 2010-03A authorizing contract for professional services for legal advice and services to Valerie Kimson, Esq. Payment is $140 per hour with the exception that legal services for litigation which is $150 per hour. Paralegal time is billed at $75 per hour. The contract is through December 31, 2010.
12. Planning, Zoning & Construction Report: I updated the Committee on the Land Use Board applications and mentioned that the Board wants the Committee to consider the lighting ordinance that was sent to them last year. I will be providing the Committee with a copy of the lighting ordinance and we will discuss it very soon. The Board is also working on a solar panel ordinance which we should be seeing soon as well.
13. Discussion on Ordinance 2010-03 which addresses storm water management and agricultural uses of land. The Agricultural Advisory Board does not support the proposal; the Land Use Board supports the proposal. Committeeman McGeary and I are planning to meet with members of the Ag Advisory Board to see what they object to and how we can address their concerns.
14. Health, Recreation and Environmental Commission Report: The Environmental Commission meets March 29 but I will not be able to attend due to a Board of Education meeting. The Recreation Commission planned an Easter egg hunt on April 2 at the South Ridge Community Church. Commission members objected to the township having 2 egg hunts- theirs and the one sponsored by the Police Department and Clinton Elks. I had over 20 emails back and forth between myself and members of the Recreation Commission regarding this topic. If half the amount of emails went back and forth between the Recreation Commission and the Police Department perhaps there wouldn’t be the lack of communication issue that I keep bringing up. Regardless, the town is big enough for 2 egg hunts- I will be attending the April 2 hunt and look forward to comparing them both…in this case.. instead of apples to apples.. it will be eggs to eggs.
15. Approved Raffle License Application RA 5 for Bonnie Brae Polo Event June 23, 2010 http://www.fieldviewfarm.com/
16. Municipal Court: Committeeman Steve Tarshis reported court receipts for February were $3,611.50 in fines, and $3,265.44 in costs.
17. School Report: there is a school budget (2010-2011) meeting being held on March 29 at the school building. I plan on attending. Check out http://www.ftschool.org/FTS_HOME/BOE.html scroll down and look under “Other Board Related Documents”
=============
Saturday March 27 I attended the Quakertown Fire Company public information session with my son, Ryan.
http://www.quakertownfire.com/fullstory.php?104568
I received very personal attention because I was the only one in attendance. What a shame; the session was very informative and the volunteers on hand were helpful and supportive. At the fire district budget hearing there were at least 100 people present, it very unfortunate that the public information sessions were poorly attended. I salute the Fire Company for hosting 3 information sessions despite the lack of public interest and hope that they continue to persevere in keeping the community informed on their operations.
After the Fire Company public information session my son and I attended an Easter egg hunt sponsored by the Franklin Township Police and the Clinton Elks on Sydney Road. I would estimate there were at least 150 kids in attendance, throw in the parents there were at least 250 persons. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times, of perhaps next time the Fire Company wants more people to attend their meetings they should hide Easter eggs around the fire house. Regardless, Public Safety Director Ken Mandoli, the police department, and the Clinton Elks did a great job hosting a wonderful and safe egg hunt for all ages.
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