APRIL 4, 2017 PAULSBORO. N.J. 6:00 P.M. CAUCUS MEETING Council Chamber: Mayor Stevenson presided at the caucus meeting of Council held on the above date and place. Mayor Stevenson called the meeting to order. Clerk VanScoy read the opening statement regarding the Open Public Meetings Act. Members present were: Council President Giovannitti, Councilman DiTonno, Councilman Giampola, Councilman Haynes, Councilman Holloway, Councilman Kidd. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR. Councilman Giampola moved and Council President Giovannitti seconded to open the floor to the public. All were in favor of the motion. Mayor Stevenson opened the floor to the public, asked anyone speaking to give their name, address and reminded everyone there was a five (5) minute time limit. There wasn t any public participation. Council President Giovannitti moved and Councilman Holloway seconded to close the floor to the public. All were in favor of the motion. At this time, Mayor and Council reviewed and discussed items on the Regular Meeting agenda. Administrator Jacobucci stated there was some discussion regarding scheduling a Special Meeting for the second reading and public hearing on three (3) Bond Ordinances that are on this Regular Meeting s agenda for Introduction and first reading.
Consensus of Council was to schedule the Special Meeting for Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. to hold the second reading and public hearing on the three (3) Bond Ordinances. Administrator Jacobucci discussed the shared service with East Greenwich Township for Construction Services. Administrator Jacobucci s recommendation is to not renew the shared service, to offer the position to Mr. Sabetta as he knows the town and if he didn t want the position to offer it to Mr. Zimm. She will need authorization to send the letter to East Greenwich Township. The fees would come back to the Borough. The Borough only receives 10% of the permit fees. It could possibly be a different shared service. Consensus of Council was to authorize Administrator Jacobucci to send a letter to East Greenwich Township to eliminate the shared service. Administrator Jacobucci stated it is that time of year to submit Financial Disclosure Statements. The Borough Clerk will be sending the Government Officers notification to submit Financial Disclosure Statements. Administrator Jacobucci also discussed the bid received from T-Mobile. It would be considered miscellaneous revenue. Mayor Stevenson discussed item #22 which is the 2017 Budget. He introduced Auditor Petroni. Councilman Giampola thanked the Finance Committee, Administrator Jacobucci and Chief Municipal Financial Officer Boyer on the great job that was done on the 2017 Budget. Auditor Petroni echoed Councilman Giampola comments. He stated the Borough is Self-Exam this year. The Budget will go up 2.9 cents at $30.25 on an average assessed home of $104,000. Administrator Jacobucci complimented the Tax Collector, Water and Sewer Clerk and all the clerks in the front office who collect the fees and taxes. This budget includes an extra Police Officer and three (3) part-time employees to fulltime. Mayor Stevenson thanked all those involved in the budget process. Councilman Kidd stated the Borough is the collector for the school and the County as well.
Councilman Giampola stated several years ago, Council loaned $200,000 to the Library but they couldn t do that and the school has their own issue. Administrator Jacobucci stated Auditor Petroni has found a way to recover the $200,000. Mayor Stevenson stated everyone is working together. Borough Engineer Biermann reported the contracts are signed for the Standpipe project and he is waiting on the concurrence from the USDA. He has received the submission from Verizon regarding their antennas on the standpipe; he is waiting on T-Mobile and he is working with AT&T. Once the Borough gets through the Bonding, he will have more information. Chief Marino reported the EEOC Complaint has been dismissed. He also reported that the Police Department is holding a Coffee with a Cop at Heritages on May 13 th and they are also holding an event called Cookout with a Cop at the Fort Billings Park from 1-4 p.m. on June 17 th, 2017. He further reported that this is the 2 nd generation with the Body Worn Cameras. These cameras have better resolution, better battery life and mounting brackets and are more efficient. He stated Pastor Kevin Davis who is the Chaplain for the Police Department is resigning and he would like to have a thank you letter sent to Pastor Davis. Chief Marino has received three (3), possibly four (4) names to appoint Alternate Crossing Guards which he had received preliminary approval. He also stated with the approval of the budget, he will need a formal Resolution to appoint the 19 th Officer. Mayor Stevenson stated he had to cancel the Town Forum that was scheduled on Saturday, April 15 th due to the Borough holding its Easter Egg Hunt. He is looking to re-schedule the Town Forum on Saturday, April 29 th, 2017 at the High School at 10:00 a.m. Mayor Stevenson questioned the status of the electronic sign. Chief Marino stated it is a nightmare as it only works when it wants. Mayor Stevenson suggested purchasing an electronic sign out in front of the building and he turned that over to the Community Betterment Committee to review. Councilman Kidd questioned if it was to be a permanent or mobile sign. Mayor Stevenson stated he would like the sign to be permanent.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS: Construction and Licensing Committee: Council President Giovannitti, Chairman: Council President Giovannitti stated a meeting was held regarding abandoned properties and asked the status of the letters to be sent to the homeowners. Solicitor Michael Maley explained the procedures regarding notices for both abandoned property and In Rem Foreclosure. Administrator Jacobucci stated letters regarding abandoned property should be sent by the end of April and the In Rem foreclosure letters should be sent next week as well as the water delinquencies. Public Property Committee: Councilman Holloway, II, Chairman: Councilman Holloway discussed getting more residents involved by using Facebook Live which records the meetings and individuals can participate interactively. Mayor Stevenson stated he felt it was a good idea as some residents are not able to get to the meetings. He would never say not to try something. Councilman DiTonno also felt it was a good idea. Mayor Stevenson suggested Councilman Holloway head up this idea with Councilman Kidd and Councilman DiTonno. Public Safety Committee: Councilman DiTonno, Chairman: Councilman DiTonno questioned the Clothing bins. Wayne Bender, Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer stated clothing bins are regulated under State Statute and he felt a Zoning Permit should be required. Administrator Jacobucci stated she drafted a Clothing Bin Ordinance and it was turned over to the Construction Code Committee. Councilman DiTonno suggested a permit fee to place a clothing bin. Administrator Jacobucci stated he should discuss that with the Committee.
Councilman Giampola suggested there is some application saying the property owner is responsible and who is placing the clothing bin. Chief Marino felt they should be limited on how many. Council President Giovannitti moved and Councilman Giampola seconded to adjourn the Caucus Meeting at 6:53 p.m. This is a brief summary of the Caucus Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Paulsboro held on April 4, 2017 and should not be considered a verbatim transcript of the meeting. Respectfully submitted, Kathy A. VanScoy, RMC/CMC/CMR Borough Clerk Gary C. Stevenson, Mayor