Borough of Raritan Council Regular Meeting February 16, 2010 The following notice was read: NOTICE of this meeting has been made by advising the Courier News and the Raritan Borough website of the time, date and place of this Council meeting, posting a notice on the official bulletin board, filing a copy in the Borough Clerk’s office and including this statement in the minutes of this meeting. Mayor Liptak called the meeting to order at 8:16 p.m. Upon call of the roll: Mayor Liptak Councilman Laggini Councilwoman Wilson - Absent Councilman Lamaestra Councilwoman Gara Councilman Lobell Council President Carra Also present was: Daniel Jaxel, Borough Administrator Mark Anderson, Borough Attorney Stan Schrek, Borough Engineer Pamela A. Huefner, Municipal Clerk Councilman Lobell presented the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comments Brian Carisone, 20 Mill Street, questioned the weight restriction on Mill Street, he wants it looked in to when it was done and why it conflicts with the site plan agreement. He stated that it directly goes against what he has approval for and is confused. Mr Carisone, stated the does not the motivation for the restriction and why is Orlando not restricted and his dead end street is. Mayor Liptak noted that she will sit with him privately, with the Engineer and Lou Gara to resolve this issue. Warren Salerno, Weiss Terrace, Asked why there has not been a study done on creating a trailer ordinance and asked who will write the ordinance. Mayor Liptak stated that she wants a count done of how many trailers are in the Borough and we must define trailer, as there could be different meanings of the word. Mr. Salerno noted that there is currently no ordinance to control trailers as long as side yard, rear yard and impervious coverage requirements are met. Councilwoman Gara will be discussing this with the Planning Board. Mike Patente, Glaiser Avenue, asked what the discussion on Busky Lane in agenda session was about, Mayor Liptak explained that the Council will discuss with the Engineer possibilities for traffic calming, such as one way south and/or a speed table. Council agreed that the road needs to stay open for safety reasons. Mr. Patente asked that Council brain storm about other options and consider a left turn only out of the mall. Anthony DeCicco, 10 Anderson Street, stated a lot of attention is being given to Busky Lane just to calm a few, parishioners coming out of St. Ann’s every Sunday are in jeopardy also due to traffic. He noted that at Quick Avenue a sign was paid for and put up by the Borough, a resident took it down and nothing was done about it, there is a problem coming out of Char. Mr. DeCicco stated that the sign should put back up and the resident told if he removes it again he will be fined. Approval of Minutes January 26, 2010 Agenda and Regular Session Minutes were presented for approval. Motion was made by Council President Carra, seconded Councilman Lobell. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilwoman Gara Aye Councilman Lobell Aye Council President Carra Aye Councilman Laggini Abstain Councilwoman Wilson Absent Councilman Lamaestra Aye RESOLUTIONS 2010 SPECIAL TEMPORARY APPROPRIATIONS Motion was made to approve the above listed resolution by Council President Cara, seconded by Councilman Laggini. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilwoman Gara Aye Councilman Lobell Aye Council President Carra Aye Councilman Laggini Aye Councilwoman Wilson Absent Councilman Lamaestra Aye The above listed resolution was approved. DESIGNATING REPRESENTATIVES TO NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE BOROUGH OF RARITAN WITH REGARD TO THE PENDING COAH MEDIATION PROCESS Motion was made to approve the above listed resolution by Councilwoman Gara, seconded by Councilman Lamaestra. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilwoman Gara Aye Councilman Lobell Aye Council President Carra Aye Councilman Laggini Aye Councilwoman Wilson Absent Councilman Lamaestra Aye The above listed resolution was approved. TRANSPORTATION OF CERTAIN PUPILS TO REGIONAL SCHOOLS Motion was made to approve the above listed resolution by Councilman Lobell, seconded by Councilman Lamaestra. Roll call vote was as follows: Councilwoman Gara Aye Councilman Lobell Aye Council President Carra Aye Councilman Laggini Aye Councilwoman Wilson Absent Councilman Lamaestra Aye The above listed resolution was approved. Committee Reports: Council President Carra stated that she had met with Department Heads on January 28th and thanked them all for keeping their budgets at 0% increase and some even making additional cuts. Council President Carra noted that NJ law makers are considering a law to prohibit COAH. She also stated that volunteers are available to help senior residents prepare their tax returns, through the County Office on Aging. The Court brought in $22,969 for the month, of which $11,674.51 went to the Borough. Council President Carra stated she had joined Officer Susa at the DARE Graduation at Hillside School. Council President Carra reported April 22nd, 2010 is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Councilman Laggini stated that he attended a fire department meeting, they are a nice group of guys and are having concerns about the decrease in fundraising. He asked that all residents please help and thank them for their work and dedication to the community. Councilman Laggini informed the public the 18 month Borough calendar, starting in March, will be mailed out in the next few weeks and thanked all of the sponsors for making it possible. He also thanked Dan and Public Works for fixing the tiles in the hallway; Frank D’Amore for such good reports and Frank Taddeo and Frank D’Amore for doing a job well done. Councilman Lamaestra thanked Public Works for working around the clock to remove snow a nd made a motion to approve sending a letter to each employee to thank them, motion was seconded by Councilman Laggini. Council unanimously approved. Councilman reported that March 13th or 20th will be the cleaning of the Gaston Brook. Councilman Lamaestra made motion to approve the release of $2,074 to West Chester Machinery , Flanders, NJ for a snow plow motor, motion seconded by Councilman Lobell. Upon call of the roll, motion was unanimously approved. Councilman Lamaestra made motion to approve the release of $1,662.92 to Custom Bandag, Inc., Keyport, NJ for tires, balancing and mounting on the Ford F550 mason dump truck, motion seconded by Councilman Lobell. Upon call of the roll motion was unanimously approved. Councilman Lamaestra stated that he has spoken with Al Smith, who informed him they we working hard on reducing the school budget. Councilwoman Gara read the police incidents report and noted a copy is available for the public in the police station. She also informed the public; Chamber Meeting on Tuesday March 2nd; recent DARE graduation was a very excited class and Officer Sausa is now starting at St. Ann’s. Councilwoman Gara reported that at the last Planning Board meeting Tom Granahan was appointed Chair and Rich Miller was appointed Vice-Chair. She also noted that J&J had been approved for solar panels. Councilwoman Gara stated that the trailer issue in town was discussed at the Planning Board and they want DPW to start noting locations and types of trailers around the Borough, including boats and landscaping trailers. She also informed the public that an application was submitted to amend the Willow Walk Development that would include 422 units, this will be heard at the February 24th Planning Board Meeting at 7:30 pm. Councilman Lobell reported that Baseball and Softball registration is ongoing till the end of the month. He also congratulated Anthony Capicci for being appointed the new Chairman. Councilman Lobell stated Recreation is still looking for summer workers and sponsors for the uniform and banners, Councilman Lobell stated the Library had 37,000 items out in circulation last year. He also informed the public that the Basilone Committee is looking at Friday the 26th of September for jazz band night and the Chamber is talking to them about holding another Fun Run. Councilman Lobell made motion to approve the hiring of Bruce Doorly to maintain the Borough website, motion was seconded by Councilwoman Gara. Upon call of the roll motion was unanimously approved. Mayor Liptak stated that she had received a phone call from David Glenn of NE Organic Farming Association and discussed some options to consider on gardening such as, plot renting, giving gardens, and neighborhood gardens. Mayor Liptak has the number and email for him if anyone is interested. Mayor Liptak reported that DeLucia’s Pizza in Raritan was voted the best pizzeria in the Star Ledger survey and this Friday is the 65th anniversary of the death of John Basiolone, next weekend is the movie premiere. Mayor Liptak asked the Council for input for an Economic Development Committee and asked it to be listed on the next meeting agenda. Unfinished Business a. Busky Lane: was on Agenda b. General Code: draft with attorney for final review NEW BUSINESS Councilman Lamaestra reminded everyone that if they had received an invitation to The Pacific movie premiere they need to call to reserve seating. Councilman Lamaestra asked that snow blower be added to the next agenda for discussion. Council President Carra stated that April 24th is scheduled for the river path clean up and asked if the Chamber would like to get involved. Councilwoman Gara stated the Environmental Commission may want to get involved. Mayor Liptak stated that business owners were not removing the snow around their businesses and fines may need to be higher. Public Comment: Warren Salerno, Weiss Terrace, stated that Willow Walk was previously been approved, Centerville had the same problem and they denied it also. He also noted that the traffic issues and wall were not addressed for the proposed 422 apartments. Mike Patente, Glasier Avenue, commented that in the resolution attached to the agenda the sewer fees seemed excessive. Dan Jaxel explained that it is for 2 months worth of processing fees. Mr. Patente asked if the charges have gone up since River Park was completed, Dan responded yes but due to rate increases to process, the amount of flow has not significantly increased. Anthony DeCicco, Anderson Street, stated that he feels raising the Somerville Court fees to $500 is too high and would agree that $400 is more reasonable. Councilman Lamaestra noted that we have to put a police man in the court and buy the units for walk through security, he also noted that has been 10 years since the fees were raised for court. Don Tozzi, Glaiser Avenue, stated there use to be huge victory parades when soldiers came back from the war and he has some pictures. Mr. Tozzi asked if the Borough would like copies to place in the Library. Mayor Liptak noted the Library no longer hangs those pictures as most of them are currently housed in her office. Councilman Laggini made motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Wilson. Upon call of the roll motion was unanimously passed. Meeting was adjourned at 9:27 pm. Respectfully submitted, Pamela A. Huefner, RMC, CMR Borough Clerk /pah