Before I rattle down with the list of what I have been up to, I’d like to grab your attention for a quick minute- big picture stuff here... February has been extremely busy for all of us on the Committee and our support staff. The preparation of our 2011 municipal budget has taken precedence, but we are also holding hearings on several ordinances: recycling, outdoor lighting, and solar energy. The outdoor lighting ordinance public hearing is being held March 10, the recycling ordinance is being introduced on March 10, and the first reading of the solar ordinance is April 14, 2011.
Besides the recycling ordinance which is county-mandated, the first and foremost goal of the lighting and solar ordinances is to protect your property values and your quality of life as residents of Franklin. We are not out to ban solar energy or outdoor lighting, but it is our obligation as elected officials to decide whether these ordinances can protect and serve the public, or are they just simply “over-regulation”.
Without anymore fanfare, here is what I have been up to this cold, snowy winter:
1. On February 3, DPW Supervisor Alan Dilley and I met with representatives from the NJ Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) to discuss ways to improve drainage flow from roadways to the rivers and streams within Franklin Township. The NJWSA obtained grant funding to perform some drainage ditch repair / enhancement work and Franklin Township may be the recipient of such efforts.
2. On February 7, I met with the Open Space Advisory Committee, welcomed several new members, reviewed our open space inventory, and discussed budgetary concerns. We discussed possible future open space acquisitions, and the status of the township’s open space / farmland preservation fund accounts.
3. On February 8, acting as the Public Works Subcommittee, Committeewoman Sue Campbell and I met with DPW Director Alan Dilley to discuss operations and budget matters.
4. February 10 was our township committee meeting, in the name of brevity I will refrain this time from revealing the meeting’s highlights- read the minutes, or wait for the movie!
5. On February 16, I met with representatives from the Hunterdon County Planning Board- Agricultural Development Board. These monthly meetings are meant to give local officials a chance to meet face to face with county planning representatives. Our topics of discussion range from farmland and open space preservation, to model ordinances, and how other towns accomplish their planning and preservation goals. These meetings are an investment in the township’s future and no town should overlook this opportunity.
6. On February 17, the Committee held a special meeting about the municipal budget. There were about 40 people in attendance, there was a PowerPoint presentation and I believe most who walked out of that meeting had a greater understanding of the task that is before us. This meeting also provided residents with valuable information- actual dollar figures that keeps this town operating.
7. On February 22, I visited Mrs. Prassl’s second grade class at Franklin Township School. I told them what it is like to be the Mayor, my responsibilities, and I read a story about George Washington. You can see pictures from this event at:
http://www.ftschool.org:16080/Prassl2P/Second_to_None/Mayor_Bauman_Visits.html
8. February 24 was our first real Committee work session we have had in a long time- a loosely based agenda with no formal actions, just discussions, ideas, and input from the public. Sounds like your idea of fun? Stop by the municipal building on the 4th Thursdays of each month, 7:30 PM and indulge yourself!
9. On February 26 I attended a Mayor’s Conference in West Windsor that focused on running meetings, budgets, negotiations, ethics, and shared services. There were about 150 mayors and council presidents in attendance, including a hefty smattering of Hunterdon County representatives! I learned a good deal from the workshop.
10. On February 28, acting as the Construction / Planning / Zoning Subcommittee, Committeeman Steve Tarshis and I met with Construction Official Mark Fornaciari to discuss operations and budget matters.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
January 16 - January 31, 2011
I have mayoral reins in my firm grasp for a month now and what a thrill! There is no honeymoon period when you are in elected office and given the state of affairs I am more than happy to get to work.
The Committee is off to a great start working together and tackling issues in a timely matter. I am very impressed with the initiatives each committee person has brought to the table. There is a lot to be done but it all starts with a budget; the Finance Subcommittee just met and is beginning to shape up our 2011 municipal budget. The statutory date for budget introduction in March 11; I am hoping we can introduce ours, adoption by April 22. Our budget deadlines are governed by the State and can be viewed here:
http://www.njslom.org/letters/2011-14-LFN.html
Hats off to our public works employees, police officers, firefighter and EMS volunteers- the last few weeks of weather haven’t been exactly ideal, but our roadways are clean and safe allowing first responders to do their jobs when help is needed.
I have been able to talk to many residents since becoming Mayor; I have gained much insight on what residents expect from their local government- and what they don’t expect! I enjoy listening and talking with folks from around town and anyone that knows me can tell you that I have an open door policy; and I do make house calls!
=====
Wednesday, January 19: Meeting with Hunterdon Co. Agricultural Development Board Staff
I learned that we have $135,859 in county open space funds that we need to spend; our last application for open space funds was submitted in 2006. It’s too bad that we didn’t utilize the fund between 2007 and 2010, but the optimist part of me is thankful that we now have $135,859 we can use to help finance past open space purchases.
=====
Thursday, January 27: Committee Meeting, Highlights Include:
We approved payment of our bills between Jan 13 and Jan 27. Big ticket items included: Franklin Township Board of Education ($1,314,715), North Hunterdon Voorhees School District ($529,748), 1/14 payroll ($41,669), first installment of our insurance coverage ($31,814), our November and January payment to the North Hunterdon Municipal Court ($19,409), and legal counsel ($6,554). The check register is available for review in the Clerk’s Office.
The State allows municipalities to increase the 2011 municipal budget from 2.5% to 3.5% over the 2010 Final Appropriations by ordinance, the Committee discussed this option but it appeared that no one was interested in raising the cap.
Thanks to the New Jersey Clean Energy program, our municipal building and public works garage received free energy audits and will be retrofitted with energy saving fixtures (lights , boilers, etc) for free as well. The Committee authorized me to sign participation agreements to make these retrofits possible. Copies of the scope of work and project summaries can be viewed using the following links:
Public Works Building:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48009346/Direct-Install-DPW-Building-Project-Summary
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48009386/Direct-Install-DPW-Building-Scope-of-Work
Municipal Building:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48009398/Direct-Install-Municipal-Building-Project-Summary
http://www.scribd.com/Direct-Install-Municipal-Building-Scope-of-Work/d/48009407
For more information on the Clean Energy Program, Direct Install, click this link:
http://www.njcleanenergy.com/di
The Committee authorized me to sign the 2011 contract between the Township and Anthony Koester. Tony has done a great job as our attorney in 2010 and I am honored to welcome him back for 2011.
The Committee authorized me to sign an animal control contract with St. Hubert’s to the tune of about $9,000.
I appointed Scott Hender and John Peterson to the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
======
Saturday, January 29: Attended a Seminar
Board of Education President Chris Piparo and I car pooled to Trenton on Saturday morning to attend a seminar sponsored by the New Jersey League of Municipalities and New Jersey School Boards Association. The seminar addressed ways school districts and municipalities can collaborate and meet the 2% property tax levy cap. As I’ve stated in previous posts, I am aware of the divisiveness between those who support our school district, and those who do not. I want 2011 to be the year that witnesses our governing body and the school district working and communicating together. We may have disagreements but that is natural, but the “us versus them” mentality when it comes to our school needs to stop. By Mr. Piparo and me openly working together it is my hope that others will take note and consider finding ways to help support our efforts.
While there may be some disagreement on the fiscal solutions to achieve a successful school curriculum and learning environment, I believe that a good school system impacts our property values- for good and bad. Given the property tax levy cap, we cannot continue to overlook ways to work together in order to save money, share services, and reduce spending.
====
Monday, January 31: Environmental Commission
Diane Burgess was appointed Chair (mayoral appointment) and the Commission members voted Bill Wild as Vice Chairman- congratulations Bill! The Commission discussed the recycling ordinance that is before the Committee as well as the solar energy ordinance. A good amount of discussion was focused on applying for an ANJEC grant for a township-wide inventory of conservation easements. I am looking forward to working with the Environmental Commission in 2011 on their projects- may it be well water testing, applying for grants, reviewing ordinances, or a myriad of other tasks they perform.
The Committee is off to a great start working together and tackling issues in a timely matter. I am very impressed with the initiatives each committee person has brought to the table. There is a lot to be done but it all starts with a budget; the Finance Subcommittee just met and is beginning to shape up our 2011 municipal budget. The statutory date for budget introduction in March 11; I am hoping we can introduce ours, adoption by April 22. Our budget deadlines are governed by the State and can be viewed here:
http://www.njslom.org/letters/2011-14-LFN.html
Hats off to our public works employees, police officers, firefighter and EMS volunteers- the last few weeks of weather haven’t been exactly ideal, but our roadways are clean and safe allowing first responders to do their jobs when help is needed.
I have been able to talk to many residents since becoming Mayor; I have gained much insight on what residents expect from their local government- and what they don’t expect! I enjoy listening and talking with folks from around town and anyone that knows me can tell you that I have an open door policy; and I do make house calls!
=====
Wednesday, January 19: Meeting with Hunterdon Co. Agricultural Development Board Staff
I learned that we have $135,859 in county open space funds that we need to spend; our last application for open space funds was submitted in 2006. It’s too bad that we didn’t utilize the fund between 2007 and 2010, but the optimist part of me is thankful that we now have $135,859 we can use to help finance past open space purchases.
=====
Thursday, January 27: Committee Meeting, Highlights Include:
We approved payment of our bills between Jan 13 and Jan 27. Big ticket items included: Franklin Township Board of Education ($1,314,715), North Hunterdon Voorhees School District ($529,748), 1/14 payroll ($41,669), first installment of our insurance coverage ($31,814), our November and January payment to the North Hunterdon Municipal Court ($19,409), and legal counsel ($6,554). The check register is available for review in the Clerk’s Office.
The State allows municipalities to increase the 2011 municipal budget from 2.5% to 3.5% over the 2010 Final Appropriations by ordinance, the Committee discussed this option but it appeared that no one was interested in raising the cap.
Thanks to the New Jersey Clean Energy program, our municipal building and public works garage received free energy audits and will be retrofitted with energy saving fixtures (lights , boilers, etc) for free as well. The Committee authorized me to sign participation agreements to make these retrofits possible. Copies of the scope of work and project summaries can be viewed using the following links:
Public Works Building:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48009346/Direct-Install-DPW-Building-Project-Summary
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48009386/Direct-Install-DPW-Building-Scope-of-Work
Municipal Building:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48009398/Direct-Install-Municipal-Building-Project-Summary
http://www.scribd.com/Direct-Install-Municipal-Building-Scope-of-Work/d/48009407
For more information on the Clean Energy Program, Direct Install, click this link:
http://www.njcleanenergy.com/di
The Committee authorized me to sign the 2011 contract between the Township and Anthony Koester. Tony has done a great job as our attorney in 2010 and I am honored to welcome him back for 2011.
The Committee authorized me to sign an animal control contract with St. Hubert’s to the tune of about $9,000.
I appointed Scott Hender and John Peterson to the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
======
Saturday, January 29: Attended a Seminar
Board of Education President Chris Piparo and I car pooled to Trenton on Saturday morning to attend a seminar sponsored by the New Jersey League of Municipalities and New Jersey School Boards Association. The seminar addressed ways school districts and municipalities can collaborate and meet the 2% property tax levy cap. As I’ve stated in previous posts, I am aware of the divisiveness between those who support our school district, and those who do not. I want 2011 to be the year that witnesses our governing body and the school district working and communicating together. We may have disagreements but that is natural, but the “us versus them” mentality when it comes to our school needs to stop. By Mr. Piparo and me openly working together it is my hope that others will take note and consider finding ways to help support our efforts.
While there may be some disagreement on the fiscal solutions to achieve a successful school curriculum and learning environment, I believe that a good school system impacts our property values- for good and bad. Given the property tax levy cap, we cannot continue to overlook ways to work together in order to save money, share services, and reduce spending.
====
Monday, January 31: Environmental Commission
Diane Burgess was appointed Chair (mayoral appointment) and the Commission members voted Bill Wild as Vice Chairman- congratulations Bill! The Commission discussed the recycling ordinance that is before the Committee as well as the solar energy ordinance. A good amount of discussion was focused on applying for an ANJEC grant for a township-wide inventory of conservation easements. I am looking forward to working with the Environmental Commission in 2011 on their projects- may it be well water testing, applying for grants, reviewing ordinances, or a myriad of other tasks they perform.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
January 9 - January 15, 2011
My first full week in the mayoral saddle. Feels good; I like this job.
Tuesday, January 11: Met with Municipal Employees
For those who do not know, Tuesday night is open house at the municipal building. Want to meet with our Tax Assessor, Zoning Officer, or Construction Official? The municipal building is open from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM for the public. I take advantage of the time to visit our municipal employees, hear what they have to say, and get a pulse of how things are around town. Tuesday night was the night of our most recent snowstorm, so it was good timing to drive to our Public Works Garage on Locust Grove Road. I met up with our Public Works employees just as they were preparing their trucks for plowing. Alan and the guys have it down to a science; I’ll bet I could take the family to Disney World during a blizzard and know for certain that our DPW has the situation under control! Truth be told- I am not a fan of Disney World and I love snow so there’s no chance I would miss out on being in New Jersey during a snow storm.
Wednesday, January 12: Land Use Board Reorganization Meeting
Our Land Use Board met and reorganized; Jim Stryker was elected Chairman, and Ted Blew was elected Vice Chairman. The Board chose Rick Roseberry for their consulting engineer, and Carl Hintz as their consulting planner. After the formalities the Board held a brainstorming session on 2010 goals and objectives. Of the Township Committee, both myself and Vigdis Austad are members of the Land Use Board. I am looking forward to working with Chairman Stryker and the rest of the Board in 2011.
Thursday, January 13: Township Committee Meeting
My first regular meeting as Mayor, and Vigdis and Sue’s first meeting as members of the Committee; unfortunately there was only about 10 or so members of the public on hand for the occasion. Interesting, there were over 100 posts on the nj.com article about Franklin’s reorganization meeting, but only 10 people in attendance to see how we work together. I will continue to challenge our residents to attend our meetings, ask us the difficult questions, and bring to the table ideas on how we can serve them better.
This year on my blog I will still report the activities from our Committee meetings, but I might not provide as much detail as I did in 2010. If something peaks your interest, you can always reach me on this blog, or through the township clerk.
We hired William Colantano, CPA to perform our 2010 audit, and to provide accounting services for 2011.
We passed Resolution 2011-11 appointing Special Police Officers for 2011. We passed Resolution 2011-12 ensuring payment of our patrolmen for 2011 in accordance to our contract agreement. We passed Resolution 2011-13 ensuring payment of our Public Works Department for 2011 in accordance to our contract agreement.
We discussed at length a draft recycling ordinance that all Hunterdon County municipalities are required to adopt. We have additional questions and asked our attorney to contact the County.
We discussed the need for an animal control contract for 2011. We used St. Hubert’s in 2010 but before signing on again, we are doing our due diligence by seeing if there are entities that can provide us the same service for less money; it cost us in the neighborhood of $9,300 in 2010.
By responding to an inquiry sent by Hunterdon County in December, we agreed to tell them that we are interested in what they have to offer in terms of shared web site service and email hosting. We paid $3,800 for our website in 2010.
We hired Rick Roseberry of Maser Consulting, PA for Professional Engineering Services for 2011.
We accepted the resignation letter of now former Fire Subcode Official Frank Ball and we made a temporary appointment until the position is filled permanently.
We approved a salvage yard license for 2011 for Block 41, Lot 1.
We introduced by title only a solar energy ordinance; the first reading of the ordinance will take place on February 24. It is important for us to hear what you have to say about this ordinance. A copy can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing
Those were the highlights of our meeting. As mayor I am going to make sure that the minutes from our meeting are posted on our township website in a timely manner.
Tuesday, January 11: Met with Municipal Employees
For those who do not know, Tuesday night is open house at the municipal building. Want to meet with our Tax Assessor, Zoning Officer, or Construction Official? The municipal building is open from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM for the public. I take advantage of the time to visit our municipal employees, hear what they have to say, and get a pulse of how things are around town. Tuesday night was the night of our most recent snowstorm, so it was good timing to drive to our Public Works Garage on Locust Grove Road. I met up with our Public Works employees just as they were preparing their trucks for plowing. Alan and the guys have it down to a science; I’ll bet I could take the family to Disney World during a blizzard and know for certain that our DPW has the situation under control! Truth be told- I am not a fan of Disney World and I love snow so there’s no chance I would miss out on being in New Jersey during a snow storm.
Wednesday, January 12: Land Use Board Reorganization Meeting
Our Land Use Board met and reorganized; Jim Stryker was elected Chairman, and Ted Blew was elected Vice Chairman. The Board chose Rick Roseberry for their consulting engineer, and Carl Hintz as their consulting planner. After the formalities the Board held a brainstorming session on 2010 goals and objectives. Of the Township Committee, both myself and Vigdis Austad are members of the Land Use Board. I am looking forward to working with Chairman Stryker and the rest of the Board in 2011.
Thursday, January 13: Township Committee Meeting
My first regular meeting as Mayor, and Vigdis and Sue’s first meeting as members of the Committee; unfortunately there was only about 10 or so members of the public on hand for the occasion. Interesting, there were over 100 posts on the nj.com article about Franklin’s reorganization meeting, but only 10 people in attendance to see how we work together. I will continue to challenge our residents to attend our meetings, ask us the difficult questions, and bring to the table ideas on how we can serve them better.
This year on my blog I will still report the activities from our Committee meetings, but I might not provide as much detail as I did in 2010. If something peaks your interest, you can always reach me on this blog, or through the township clerk.
We hired William Colantano, CPA to perform our 2010 audit, and to provide accounting services for 2011.
We passed Resolution 2011-11 appointing Special Police Officers for 2011. We passed Resolution 2011-12 ensuring payment of our patrolmen for 2011 in accordance to our contract agreement. We passed Resolution 2011-13 ensuring payment of our Public Works Department for 2011 in accordance to our contract agreement.
We discussed at length a draft recycling ordinance that all Hunterdon County municipalities are required to adopt. We have additional questions and asked our attorney to contact the County.
We discussed the need for an animal control contract for 2011. We used St. Hubert’s in 2010 but before signing on again, we are doing our due diligence by seeing if there are entities that can provide us the same service for less money; it cost us in the neighborhood of $9,300 in 2010.
By responding to an inquiry sent by Hunterdon County in December, we agreed to tell them that we are interested in what they have to offer in terms of shared web site service and email hosting. We paid $3,800 for our website in 2010.
We hired Rick Roseberry of Maser Consulting, PA for Professional Engineering Services for 2011.
We accepted the resignation letter of now former Fire Subcode Official Frank Ball and we made a temporary appointment until the position is filled permanently.
We approved a salvage yard license for 2011 for Block 41, Lot 1.
We introduced by title only a solar energy ordinance; the first reading of the ordinance will take place on February 24. It is important for us to hear what you have to say about this ordinance. A copy can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing
Those were the highlights of our meeting. As mayor I am going to make sure that the minutes from our meeting are posted on our township website in a timely manner.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
January 5, 2011: Reorganization Meeting
Tonight we had our reorganization meeting. Committeewomen Vigdis Austad and Susan Campbell were sworn into office and I was sworn in as Mayor for 2011. I am grateful for this opportunity and I thank the Committee for selecting me to be mayor. I am really looking forward to this!
Here is the speech I gave at the conclusion of our meeting:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46366384/Jan-5-2011-Mayor-s-Message
Here is a list of all the appointments made by the Committee:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46361921/2011-Appointments-Rev-Jan-5-2011
Look for more timely updates on this blog in 2011. Happy New Year.
Scott
Here is the speech I gave at the conclusion of our meeting:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46366384/Jan-5-2011-Mayor-s-Message
Here is a list of all the appointments made by the Committee:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46361921/2011-Appointments-Rev-Jan-5-2011
Look for more timely updates on this blog in 2011. Happy New Year.
Scott
Sunday, January 2, 2011
December 20 – December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 23: Township Committee
Out of respect to the two new committee members, the present committee agreed to carry ordinances 2010-09 (Recycling), 2010-10 (Solar Energy Systems), and 2010-11 (Lighting) to January 13, 2010.
The Recycling ordinance can be viewed in the township clerk’s office.
The Solar Energy Systems ordinance can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing
The Lighting ordinance can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686513/Lighting-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23
The Committee agreed to pass Ordinance 2010-12 which as of December 23, 2010 suspended COAH fees to residential structural improvements and expansions.
We received our Tax Collector’s reports for October and November 2010. In October we collected $656,341.64. In November we collected $2,366,145.36
We paid our bills checks dated 12/16 through 12/23. Big ticket items included: $282,241.51 (Transfer of tax levy into our township open space and recreation account), $93,750.00 (4th installment of the fire district tax), and $33,094 (12/17 municipal payroll). The complete check control register is always available for public view at the township clerk’s office. In 2011 I am going to work on getting the check control register posted on the township website.
The Committee approved by a vote of 4-1 a three year agreement (1/1/10 -12/31/12) for the Public Works Department union and for a one year agreement (1/1/10 – 12/31/10) for our non-union DPW supervisor. I was the lone dissenting vote because the agreement contained 3% raises each year. Our DPW does a great job… “however”… given the extremely difficult economic climate we are enduring, our increased costs, decreasing revenue, and my preference for reducing government spending, I could not vote for a contract with such a schedule of increased pay.
We passed resolution 2010-83 which cancelled several capital improvement fund accounts, specifically: $9,587.36 for the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle, $6,445.63 for the purchase and installation of an emergency generator, and $799.90 for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle.
Our CFO Ron Matthews gave us and the public a “snapshot” look at our open space funding mechanisms and suggestions on how we could use those funds to pay down past debt on previous open space purchases. I found the presentation very worthwhile and clear to understand. In the near future I will reproduce Mr. Matthew’s table he wrote on the white board in the municipal building. The bottom line is we receive about $282,000 each year in our open space tax, we have accumulated debt from past open space purchases and we need to initiate a payment plan to reduce this debt. In the short term this payment plan may hamper us from purchasing additional open space, however if the right property should become available there are still ways for us to finance the purchase of that property.
Thursday, December 30, 2010: Township Committee
Our year end meeting was only 15 minutes long and it basically served as a formal way to close the financial books on year 2010. We passed Resolution 2010-84 which transferred a total of $69,350 of funds between appropriations. We also approved payments of $2,598 in bills.
==
On December 9, three Exceptional Duty Awards and one Civilian Service Award were given to four employees of Franklin Township.
Class II Patrolman Joseph Cesare and Patrolman John Oliveira were commended for their action on July 25, 2010. While on duty they made a motor vehicle stop and arrested two individuals for possession with intent to distribute drugs. Further investigation yielded the discovery of $23,000 cash and the subsequent forfeiture of the cash and the Chevrolet Suburban.
Detective Timothy Snyder was commended for his action on June 30, 2010. While on duty Detective Snyder responded to a go-cart crash with two individuals suffering serious injuries after falling off an 80 foot cliff. Detective Snyder waded hip deep across a river in full uniform and rendered first aid and stabilized the victims until Emergency Medical Services arrived.
Marie Wedel was commended for over ten years of service to the Franklin Township Police Department.
All four individuals are exemplary employees of Franklin Township and they have much to be proud of; their commendations are well deserved, congratulations.
=======
As 2010 comes to an end I look back on my first year serving the public as a committeeman. I wouldn’t exchange the last year for anything; I have embraced my responsibilities with enthusiasm, seriousness, and honesty. I have voted my consciousness after gathering all of the facts. I have gotten to know many more people in Franklin and that to me is the best part of my job. 2011 will be full of challenges and I am looking forward to working together with the township committee, our municipal employees, our commissions and boards, and most importantly, our residents on addressing these challenges as they arise.
Out of respect to the two new committee members, the present committee agreed to carry ordinances 2010-09 (Recycling), 2010-10 (Solar Energy Systems), and 2010-11 (Lighting) to January 13, 2010.
The Recycling ordinance can be viewed in the township clerk’s office.
The Solar Energy Systems ordinance can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing
The Lighting ordinance can be viewed here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686513/Lighting-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23
The Committee agreed to pass Ordinance 2010-12 which as of December 23, 2010 suspended COAH fees to residential structural improvements and expansions.
We received our Tax Collector’s reports for October and November 2010. In October we collected $656,341.64. In November we collected $2,366,145.36
We paid our bills checks dated 12/16 through 12/23. Big ticket items included: $282,241.51 (Transfer of tax levy into our township open space and recreation account), $93,750.00 (4th installment of the fire district tax), and $33,094 (12/17 municipal payroll). The complete check control register is always available for public view at the township clerk’s office. In 2011 I am going to work on getting the check control register posted on the township website.
The Committee approved by a vote of 4-1 a three year agreement (1/1/10 -12/31/12) for the Public Works Department union and for a one year agreement (1/1/10 – 12/31/10) for our non-union DPW supervisor. I was the lone dissenting vote because the agreement contained 3% raises each year. Our DPW does a great job… “however”… given the extremely difficult economic climate we are enduring, our increased costs, decreasing revenue, and my preference for reducing government spending, I could not vote for a contract with such a schedule of increased pay.
We passed resolution 2010-83 which cancelled several capital improvement fund accounts, specifically: $9,587.36 for the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle, $6,445.63 for the purchase and installation of an emergency generator, and $799.90 for the purchase of a sport utility vehicle.
Our CFO Ron Matthews gave us and the public a “snapshot” look at our open space funding mechanisms and suggestions on how we could use those funds to pay down past debt on previous open space purchases. I found the presentation very worthwhile and clear to understand. In the near future I will reproduce Mr. Matthew’s table he wrote on the white board in the municipal building. The bottom line is we receive about $282,000 each year in our open space tax, we have accumulated debt from past open space purchases and we need to initiate a payment plan to reduce this debt. In the short term this payment plan may hamper us from purchasing additional open space, however if the right property should become available there are still ways for us to finance the purchase of that property.
Thursday, December 30, 2010: Township Committee
Our year end meeting was only 15 minutes long and it basically served as a formal way to close the financial books on year 2010. We passed Resolution 2010-84 which transferred a total of $69,350 of funds between appropriations. We also approved payments of $2,598 in bills.
==
On December 9, three Exceptional Duty Awards and one Civilian Service Award were given to four employees of Franklin Township.
Class II Patrolman Joseph Cesare and Patrolman John Oliveira were commended for their action on July 25, 2010. While on duty they made a motor vehicle stop and arrested two individuals for possession with intent to distribute drugs. Further investigation yielded the discovery of $23,000 cash and the subsequent forfeiture of the cash and the Chevrolet Suburban.
Detective Timothy Snyder was commended for his action on June 30, 2010. While on duty Detective Snyder responded to a go-cart crash with two individuals suffering serious injuries after falling off an 80 foot cliff. Detective Snyder waded hip deep across a river in full uniform and rendered first aid and stabilized the victims until Emergency Medical Services arrived.
Marie Wedel was commended for over ten years of service to the Franklin Township Police Department.
All four individuals are exemplary employees of Franklin Township and they have much to be proud of; their commendations are well deserved, congratulations.
=======
As 2010 comes to an end I look back on my first year serving the public as a committeeman. I wouldn’t exchange the last year for anything; I have embraced my responsibilities with enthusiasm, seriousness, and honesty. I have voted my consciousness after gathering all of the facts. I have gotten to know many more people in Franklin and that to me is the best part of my job. 2011 will be full of challenges and I am looking forward to working together with the township committee, our municipal employees, our commissions and boards, and most importantly, our residents on addressing these challenges as they arise.
Monday, December 20, 2010
COAH & Lighting Ordinances
COAH Ordinance link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686435/COAH-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23
Lighting Ordinance link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686513/Lighting-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23
comments? questions? call or email me.
Scott
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686435/COAH-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23
Lighting Ordinance link:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45686513/Lighting-Ordinance-Hearing-Dec-23
comments? questions? call or email me.
Scott
Sunday, December 19, 2010
November 22 - December 19, 2010
Apologies for not updating my blog in a timely manner. While the frequency of my blog updates does not compromise my effectiveness as a committeeman, it doesn’t provide you- the reader with a timely summary of my activities as a public official. Should my blog ever go over one month without an update…call the police!
Monday, November 29: Environmental Commission Meeting
The Environmental Commission commented on the proposed recycling ordinance that is presently before the Township Committee- they were going to provide the Committee with their comments in writing prior to the December 9 meeting but we did not receive them. The Commission was updated on the activities of the Land Use Board by Commission members Lisa Wood and Jennifer Fisher. The Commission discussed the proposed solar energy ordinance that is being prepared by the Land Use Board. Also discussed were ideas to inventory our township’s nature trails and the various grant opportunities available to achieve those goals. I asked the Commission to begin to prepare their budget for 2011 keeping in mind that it is going to be another tight year from a fiscal standpoint.
Tuesday November 30: SADC Workshop on Solar Energy Generation on Farms
The Hunterdon County Municipal Officers’ Association asked State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) Executive Director Susan Craft to discuss on-farm solar energy generation. Ms. Craft was able to address solar energy generation on preserved and farmland assessed farms. You can find a copy of Ms. Craft’s presentation here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45654640/SADC-Presentation-on-Solar-Energy-11-30-2010
In short, the SADC has imposed limits on the amount of energy a farmland assessed property can generate- no more than 10 acres in solar panels, 2 megawatts, and a limit of a 1:5 ratio of solar to agricultural / horticultural operations. The property owner must have a conservation plan approved by the Soil Conservation District that addresses aesthetics, impervious coverage, and environmental impacts. The SADC hasn’t yet adopted an agricultural management practice (AMP) for solar energy generation on farms; here is the link to the proposed AMP: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/news/hottopics/Solar%20amp%20rule%20proposal.pdf
I found Ms. Craft’s talk very informative and it made me realize that much of this regulation is not yet solidified. Many towns in Hunterdon County- including Franklin- are working on solar energy ordinances and when the Township Committee entertains such an ordinance I will be taking the information I derived from Ms. Craft’s talk as part of my decision making process.
Monday December 6: Open Space Advisory Committee Meeting
Even though I am not on the Open Space Subcommittee, I felt it was important to attend this meeting of the OSAC. Three members were present- no quorum but there was no business that required official action. Those present gave me a solid background on the OSAC mission and some history on past land acquisitions. The OSAC is in need of members- if you have an interest in preserving Franklin’s open space and maintaining our rural character, the OSAC may be for you. One committee member stated that the OSAC isn’t the most glamorous committee … yes, it’s hard not to agree with that statement, but the OSAC does play an important role in Franklin. We also discussed the options of Franklin having a recreation park / field for its residents- I have heard this from many residents as well.
Tuesday December 7: Recreation Commission Meeting
The Recreation Commission reviewed their Halloween tailgate party and how they can improve their already successful event for next year. A discussion ensued about the youth basketball program- this year our program was combined with Clinton’s program- we are not able to use our school’s gym but Clinton has been kind enough to include us in their program. The Commission hopes to be back in our own school for next year’s program. The Commission decided tentative dates for the 2011 egg hunt (April 22), and the fishing derby (May 1). The Commission discussed their budgetary needs for 2011. Resident Martin Bercaw attended the meeting and expressed an interest in being appointed to the Commission. I agreed to help the Commission with preparing a recreation survey for a future municipal newsletter- this survey will ask residents about what recreation activities they would like to see in Franklin. The information from this survey will help both the Recreation Commission and the Planning Board who has been handed the task of preparing a recreation element to our township’s master plan.
Thursday December 9: Township Committee Meeting
Busy meeting- four ordinances, eleven resolutions, and a vote on a contract for the Department of Public Works.
The Committee agreed to adjourn Ordinance 2010-09 (recycling ordinance) to the December 23 meeting. Committee members still have questions about how this ordinance will be enforced, and the severity of the penalties for those who don’t abide by the rules. We have been told that if we do not adopt a recycling ordinance that meets the requirements of the Hunterdon County Solid Waste Management Plan, we face penalties of up to $3,000 a day. Other municipalities in Hunterdon are going through the same questioning such as Bloomsbury, Frenchtown, and Califon.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/10/frenchtown_adopts_new_recyclin.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/11/bloosmbury_officials_criticize.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/10/califon_council_has_misgivings.html
We paid the bills… large ticket items include the 11/18 payroll ($46,703), the 12/03 payroll ($30,935), our November health care premium ($18,393), and our December health care premium ($17,722).
We approved the following resolutions:
• 2010-71: awarding a contract to International Salt for snow and ice control materials. We are part of a county cooperative pricing system and this resolution was required in order for us to be part of the cooperative purchase agreement. For those who are interested, the price of salt has decreased over the past 3 years- in 2009 we paid $67.80 a ton, in 2010 we paid $52.00 a ton, and in 2011 we will be paying $51.40 a ton.
• 2010-72: releasing a $57,144 maintenance bond for the Oak Summit Estates subdivision (Block 39, Lot 10).
• 2010-73: accepting a $262,585 bid from DeSantis Construction for the West Sidney Road Improvement Project, Phase 1.
• 2010-74: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $973.08 from a 2010 body armor grant from the NJ Dept. of Law & Public Safety.
• 2010-75: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $1,514.10 from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety “Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund”.
• 2010-76: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $4,000.00 from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety “Click It or Ticket” program.
• 2010-77: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $5,000.00 from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety” Holiday Over the Limit Under Arrest” program.
• 2010-78: cancelling three checks that have been either misplaced, lost, or destroyed: Kasper Disposal Services (#5146, $21.59), Municipal Clerk’s Association of Somerset County (#5669, $35.00), and a payroll check that was misplaced (#6587, $1,130.00).
• 2010-79: cancelling a $209.99 reserve in a closed grant fund account we had open for our Natural Resource Inventory Grant.
• 2010-80: refunding three property tax over payments: $30.00, $1,304.76, and $377.27.
• 2010-81: approving the North Hunterdon Municipal Court budget for 2011 ($512,227.15). Franklin’s share of this budget is $124,628.73 ($10,385.73 per month). Our 2010 monthly payments were $9,024.23.
• 2010-82: authorizing the North Hunterdon Municipal Court to appoint Robin Manfredi as the Certified Court Administrator for 2011 at a salary of $74,006.60. Ms. Manfredi’s salary for 2010 was $72,555.49.
Police Director Ken Mandoli submitted his November 2010 monthly report. 59 motor vehicle summonses and 103 warnings were issued. The Department conducted 19 investigations, investigated 59 incidents, received 80 radio calls, and 121 phone calls. There were four adult arrests.
Department of Public Works Supervisor Alan Dilley submitted his November 2010 monthly report. The majority of the work in November consisted of getting the snow equipment ready, clearing roadway shoulder basins, installing snow fences, delineating plow routes, and removing trees and limbs from the roadway. The Committee and the DPW union have been negotiating a contract agreement for most of 2010. In short, the contract calls for a 3 year term (1/10/10 – 12/31/12), 3% raises each year, no compensation for unused sick days, and unused vacation days to be redeemed at the current hourly rate by the end of each year. After an executive session that lasted from 9:30 PM until 10:10 PM we went back into public session and the contract came up for a vote; there was no one from the public present. To his credit Committeeman Tarshis was uncomfortable voting for the contract given the timing- he would rather have the vote take place at our December 23 meeting, earlier in the night. I too was uncomfortable with the timing of the vote, and the proposed raises cited in the agreement. A vote was called and the vote was 2-2 (Committeeman McGeary was absent) so the contract was not approved. The contract will most likely come up for another vote on December 23. Unless the raises are adjusted to a level that is more sensitive our economic climate I will continue to vote no on the contract.
Our Zoning Officer John Barczyk submitted his November monthly report- slow month: only 3 applications- one approval, one incomplete, and one denial. I must say though in his defense, each Tuesday night I visit the municipal building to see our employees, there is always someone in John’s office.
We authorized payment of $230.00 for newly elected Committeewomen Vigdis Austad and Susan Campbell to attend the NJ League of Municipalities Newly Elected Officials orientation. I took the same class last year and it is money well spent.
We received 3 quotes from vendors to upgrade the electric in the multi purpose room in the municipal building. The quotes ranged from $800 to $1,095; we agreed to table this project for now and possibly include a more encompassing electric upgrade to the municipal building as part of a capital improvement in 2011.
Three ordinances were introduced: 2010-11 Lighting Ordinance, 2010-12 suspending the COAH fee to existing residential structural improvements and expansions, and 2010-13 Solar Energy Systems. Since we received two of the three ordinances that day we were in no position to comment on them; all three were scheduled for a public hearing on December 23.
The solar energy ordinance can be viewed here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing
Sorry I am having trouble downloading the lighting and the COAH fee ordinance but it is available at the Clerk’s office. I will continue to attempt to download it onto my blog.
Sunday December 12: North Hunterdon EMS/Rescue Working Group
I attended an informational meeting on ways for north Hunterdon County municipalities to improve and reduce the costs of emergency medical services. Representatives from Hampton, Lebanon, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, High Bridge, and Franklin were in attendance. This meeting was strictly informational and is most likely one of a series of meetings that will attempt to cover the possibilities of sharing services, investigating the pros and cons of regionalization, ways to improve services, and ways to reduce costs in providing emergency medical services. This first step in openly discussing shared services / regionalization is just that- a first step. This group’s mission statement and how its recommendations impact municipalities remains t o be seen- that being said there is nothing yet to agree or disagree with but it is worth keeping an eye on and making sure that Franklin is at the table as our neighboring municipalities work towards a better, more efficient EMS system. I was glad to see three members of Quakertown Fire Company in attendance.
Monday, November 29: Environmental Commission Meeting
The Environmental Commission commented on the proposed recycling ordinance that is presently before the Township Committee- they were going to provide the Committee with their comments in writing prior to the December 9 meeting but we did not receive them. The Commission was updated on the activities of the Land Use Board by Commission members Lisa Wood and Jennifer Fisher. The Commission discussed the proposed solar energy ordinance that is being prepared by the Land Use Board. Also discussed were ideas to inventory our township’s nature trails and the various grant opportunities available to achieve those goals. I asked the Commission to begin to prepare their budget for 2011 keeping in mind that it is going to be another tight year from a fiscal standpoint.
Tuesday November 30: SADC Workshop on Solar Energy Generation on Farms
The Hunterdon County Municipal Officers’ Association asked State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) Executive Director Susan Craft to discuss on-farm solar energy generation. Ms. Craft was able to address solar energy generation on preserved and farmland assessed farms. You can find a copy of Ms. Craft’s presentation here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45654640/SADC-Presentation-on-Solar-Energy-11-30-2010
In short, the SADC has imposed limits on the amount of energy a farmland assessed property can generate- no more than 10 acres in solar panels, 2 megawatts, and a limit of a 1:5 ratio of solar to agricultural / horticultural operations. The property owner must have a conservation plan approved by the Soil Conservation District that addresses aesthetics, impervious coverage, and environmental impacts. The SADC hasn’t yet adopted an agricultural management practice (AMP) for solar energy generation on farms; here is the link to the proposed AMP: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/news/hottopics/Solar%20amp%20rule%20proposal.pdf
I found Ms. Craft’s talk very informative and it made me realize that much of this regulation is not yet solidified. Many towns in Hunterdon County- including Franklin- are working on solar energy ordinances and when the Township Committee entertains such an ordinance I will be taking the information I derived from Ms. Craft’s talk as part of my decision making process.
Monday December 6: Open Space Advisory Committee Meeting
Even though I am not on the Open Space Subcommittee, I felt it was important to attend this meeting of the OSAC. Three members were present- no quorum but there was no business that required official action. Those present gave me a solid background on the OSAC mission and some history on past land acquisitions. The OSAC is in need of members- if you have an interest in preserving Franklin’s open space and maintaining our rural character, the OSAC may be for you. One committee member stated that the OSAC isn’t the most glamorous committee … yes, it’s hard not to agree with that statement, but the OSAC does play an important role in Franklin. We also discussed the options of Franklin having a recreation park / field for its residents- I have heard this from many residents as well.
Tuesday December 7: Recreation Commission Meeting
The Recreation Commission reviewed their Halloween tailgate party and how they can improve their already successful event for next year. A discussion ensued about the youth basketball program- this year our program was combined with Clinton’s program- we are not able to use our school’s gym but Clinton has been kind enough to include us in their program. The Commission hopes to be back in our own school for next year’s program. The Commission decided tentative dates for the 2011 egg hunt (April 22), and the fishing derby (May 1). The Commission discussed their budgetary needs for 2011. Resident Martin Bercaw attended the meeting and expressed an interest in being appointed to the Commission. I agreed to help the Commission with preparing a recreation survey for a future municipal newsletter- this survey will ask residents about what recreation activities they would like to see in Franklin. The information from this survey will help both the Recreation Commission and the Planning Board who has been handed the task of preparing a recreation element to our township’s master plan.
Thursday December 9: Township Committee Meeting
Busy meeting- four ordinances, eleven resolutions, and a vote on a contract for the Department of Public Works.
The Committee agreed to adjourn Ordinance 2010-09 (recycling ordinance) to the December 23 meeting. Committee members still have questions about how this ordinance will be enforced, and the severity of the penalties for those who don’t abide by the rules. We have been told that if we do not adopt a recycling ordinance that meets the requirements of the Hunterdon County Solid Waste Management Plan, we face penalties of up to $3,000 a day. Other municipalities in Hunterdon are going through the same questioning such as Bloomsbury, Frenchtown, and Califon.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/10/frenchtown_adopts_new_recyclin.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/11/bloosmbury_officials_criticize.html
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/10/califon_council_has_misgivings.html
We paid the bills… large ticket items include the 11/18 payroll ($46,703), the 12/03 payroll ($30,935), our November health care premium ($18,393), and our December health care premium ($17,722).
We approved the following resolutions:
• 2010-71: awarding a contract to International Salt for snow and ice control materials. We are part of a county cooperative pricing system and this resolution was required in order for us to be part of the cooperative purchase agreement. For those who are interested, the price of salt has decreased over the past 3 years- in 2009 we paid $67.80 a ton, in 2010 we paid $52.00 a ton, and in 2011 we will be paying $51.40 a ton.
• 2010-72: releasing a $57,144 maintenance bond for the Oak Summit Estates subdivision (Block 39, Lot 10).
• 2010-73: accepting a $262,585 bid from DeSantis Construction for the West Sidney Road Improvement Project, Phase 1.
• 2010-74: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $973.08 from a 2010 body armor grant from the NJ Dept. of Law & Public Safety.
• 2010-75: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $1,514.10 from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety “Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund”.
• 2010-76: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $4,000.00 from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety “Click It or Ticket” program.
• 2010-77: inserting a “special item of revenue” into our municipal budget- $5,000.00 from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety” Holiday Over the Limit Under Arrest” program.
• 2010-78: cancelling three checks that have been either misplaced, lost, or destroyed: Kasper Disposal Services (#5146, $21.59), Municipal Clerk’s Association of Somerset County (#5669, $35.00), and a payroll check that was misplaced (#6587, $1,130.00).
• 2010-79: cancelling a $209.99 reserve in a closed grant fund account we had open for our Natural Resource Inventory Grant.
• 2010-80: refunding three property tax over payments: $30.00, $1,304.76, and $377.27.
• 2010-81: approving the North Hunterdon Municipal Court budget for 2011 ($512,227.15). Franklin’s share of this budget is $124,628.73 ($10,385.73 per month). Our 2010 monthly payments were $9,024.23.
• 2010-82: authorizing the North Hunterdon Municipal Court to appoint Robin Manfredi as the Certified Court Administrator for 2011 at a salary of $74,006.60. Ms. Manfredi’s salary for 2010 was $72,555.49.
Police Director Ken Mandoli submitted his November 2010 monthly report. 59 motor vehicle summonses and 103 warnings were issued. The Department conducted 19 investigations, investigated 59 incidents, received 80 radio calls, and 121 phone calls. There were four adult arrests.
Department of Public Works Supervisor Alan Dilley submitted his November 2010 monthly report. The majority of the work in November consisted of getting the snow equipment ready, clearing roadway shoulder basins, installing snow fences, delineating plow routes, and removing trees and limbs from the roadway. The Committee and the DPW union have been negotiating a contract agreement for most of 2010. In short, the contract calls for a 3 year term (1/10/10 – 12/31/12), 3% raises each year, no compensation for unused sick days, and unused vacation days to be redeemed at the current hourly rate by the end of each year. After an executive session that lasted from 9:30 PM until 10:10 PM we went back into public session and the contract came up for a vote; there was no one from the public present. To his credit Committeeman Tarshis was uncomfortable voting for the contract given the timing- he would rather have the vote take place at our December 23 meeting, earlier in the night. I too was uncomfortable with the timing of the vote, and the proposed raises cited in the agreement. A vote was called and the vote was 2-2 (Committeeman McGeary was absent) so the contract was not approved. The contract will most likely come up for another vote on December 23. Unless the raises are adjusted to a level that is more sensitive our economic climate I will continue to vote no on the contract.
Our Zoning Officer John Barczyk submitted his November monthly report- slow month: only 3 applications- one approval, one incomplete, and one denial. I must say though in his defense, each Tuesday night I visit the municipal building to see our employees, there is always someone in John’s office.
We authorized payment of $230.00 for newly elected Committeewomen Vigdis Austad and Susan Campbell to attend the NJ League of Municipalities Newly Elected Officials orientation. I took the same class last year and it is money well spent.
We received 3 quotes from vendors to upgrade the electric in the multi purpose room in the municipal building. The quotes ranged from $800 to $1,095; we agreed to table this project for now and possibly include a more encompassing electric upgrade to the municipal building as part of a capital improvement in 2011.
Three ordinances were introduced: 2010-11 Lighting Ordinance, 2010-12 suspending the COAH fee to existing residential structural improvements and expansions, and 2010-13 Solar Energy Systems. Since we received two of the three ordinances that day we were in no position to comment on them; all three were scheduled for a public hearing on December 23.
The solar energy ordinance can be viewed here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/45662473/Solar-Energy-Ordinance-for-Dec-23-Hearing
Sorry I am having trouble downloading the lighting and the COAH fee ordinance but it is available at the Clerk’s office. I will continue to attempt to download it onto my blog.
Sunday December 12: North Hunterdon EMS/Rescue Working Group
I attended an informational meeting on ways for north Hunterdon County municipalities to improve and reduce the costs of emergency medical services. Representatives from Hampton, Lebanon, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, High Bridge, and Franklin were in attendance. This meeting was strictly informational and is most likely one of a series of meetings that will attempt to cover the possibilities of sharing services, investigating the pros and cons of regionalization, ways to improve services, and ways to reduce costs in providing emergency medical services. This first step in openly discussing shared services / regionalization is just that- a first step. This group’s mission statement and how its recommendations impact municipalities remains t o be seen- that being said there is nothing yet to agree or disagree with but it is worth keeping an eye on and making sure that Franklin is at the table as our neighboring municipalities work towards a better, more efficient EMS system. I was glad to see three members of Quakertown Fire Company in attendance.
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