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March 9, 2009 The Township Committee met on the above date at 7:30 PM. Mayor Hlubik called the meeting to order and opened with the flag salute and a moment of silence. Roll call was taken showing present: Mayor Michael J. Hlubik, Deputy Mayor Brian J. Kelly and Committeeman Lawrence H. Durr. Elizabeth Garcia was present from the Township Attorney’s office. Notice of this meeting was properly given by filing written notice with the Clerk of the Township and members of the governing body, posting notice on the bulletin board in the Township Municipal Building and publishing notice in the Township’s official newspaper on February 26, 2009 in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act. Mayor Hlubik opened the meeting to the public for comments on matters not appearing on the agenda. Hearing none, the Committee continued with the public hearing on the defeated budget of Fire District # 1. Jack Maley, auditor for the Fire District was present and went through the budget with the Committee, line item by line item, to address concerns that the Committee has. Mr. Durr questioned the awards program and was told that it is a LOSAP program. Mr. Durr also questioned the increase in health benefits and was told that this represents an additional employee receiving benefits. There is a line item of $20,000 for Reserve for Capital Outlay. Mr. Maley explained that this is not seed money for bonding but money for outright purchases, dollar for dollar. Mr. Durr asked when this practice started and how much is already in the fund. Mr. Maley replied that 2008 was the first year for this and $20,000 was put in at that time. With the $20,000 in 2009, the total will be $40,000. A discussion ensued concerning the payment for fire hydrants and water mains. Steve Murza stated that if the first quarter bill is multiplied by 4, there is already a shortfall in the budget. Mr. Durr stated that the Commissioners are paying for hydrants on roads that have not been dedicated to the Township. This was discussed two years ago when the budget failed and it doesn’t seem that anything has changed. The water company has provided a listing of hydrants in District One and, it appears, that hydrant #’s C066 through C113 are not on dedicated streets and should be paid for by the developers. The hard part is determining the length of water mains represented by this area. Chip Katona asked why all of the homeowners in the Township aren’t paying for the hydrants and water lines. He lives in District 1 but does not have public water. There should only be one fire district and the entire Township should be paying the bill. It appears from the list provided by the water company, that there are only 88 hydrants that the Commissioners should be paying for – which should total approximately $12,900. Mr. Durr is concerned that the Committee does not have enough information to make a decision tonight as no one knows the inch foot of water mains on the non-dedicated streets and what that charge represents. Mayor Hlubik asked is the pension payment could be deferred if funds are short. Mr. Maley responded that the full amount has been provided for, but a savings could be realized in that area. Mr. Kelly asked if the Township is bound to do something with the LOSAP program if the budget fails? Ms. Garcia stated that she is not aware of any requirement concerning LOSAP. Mr. Dubell stated that it is not a LOSAP program. The money is given to the volunteers to invest on their own. It uses the same point system as LOSAP. Mr. Durr asked the Commissioners if they have ever considered a JIF insurance. Stan Lewis replied that EJA will not give them a line item quote and they require a 3 year commitment. Mr. Durr pointed out that they are listed as an assigned risk and Mr. Lewis responded that they cannot get out. Mr. Durr continued that it is his understanding that signing up with the JIF would take them out of that category. Mayor Hlubik asked the Commissioner what they would propose to settle this tonight? Mr. Dubell stated that, if it is correct that they do not have to pay for the hydrants and the mains on non-dedicated streets, $25,000 could easily be cut from that line item. Chip Katona suggested eliminating one firefighter. Henry Krzewinski of 10 Front Street stated that NFPA guidelines suggest 2 firefighters in a structure and 2 firefighters outside, resulting in the need for 4 firefighters. Mr. Krzewinski continued that the way in which the fire truck referendum was handled was underhanded. The insurance should go out to bid for the best price and he would like to see the building inspected to ensure that it is a safe working environment. Chip Katona continued that Derby Fire Co. in Bordentown has 3 paid guys and answers many more calls per year so it can be done. Fred Freda, career staff in Crosswicks stated that Bordentown has just added 2 more firefighters so they now have 4 per shift. Brent Dickinson, District 1 Commissioner stated that Crosswicks will follow the 4 firefighter guideline as a minimum for safety. Mr. Durr asked if the 19 qualified equipment operators can all operate all of the equipment. Mr. Lewis stated that they cannot operate all equipment but he believes they can all operate the pumper. Mr. Dickinson stated that some firefighters do not wish to operate all of the equipment and he could provide the specific equipment to the names. Mr. Durr commended the Fire Company on increasing their number of volunteers in the past few years. Mr. Boyadjian stated that the career staff has encouraged the volunteers. Mr. Lewis stated that more volunteers are responding during the day to complement the career staff. Mr. Durr asked if one paid firefighter could be eliminated since volunteers are responding during the day. Mr. Dickinson stated that this is not something that can be relied on. Mr. Durr asked about the policy on the fire truck leaving the district. He receives calls from residents concerning the fire truck being at Hamilton Marketplace at lunch time. Mr. Dubell stated that the matter has been corrected and they are no longer allowed to do that. Mr. Durr questioned the policy for dealing with it if it does happen. Mr. Lewis replied that the staff has been told where they are and are not allowed to go. Mr. Durr continued that it is offensive as a taxpayer and the matter needs to be corrected. Mr. Durr questioned the status of the new fire truck and if it has been bonded yet. Mr. Maley replied that it has not been bonded and the debt service in the budget is anticipated. Mr. Durr asked what the penalty would be to cancel the truck and no one had the answer. Mr. Dubell stated that there are new NFPA regulations coming out which would have increased the price by $20,000 - $25,000 if they had waited. Mr. Durr continued that he does not believe they were trying to hide anything. He has a problem with the law and the way in which fire district elections are conducted. Mr. Durr asked if an engineering study has been performed to ensure that the fire house construction will hold the new truck. Mr. Dubell stated that the new truck will weigh less than the truck that is already in there. Mr. Durr continued that he does not understand the need for a 75’ ladder when there is one in Bordentown. Mr. Lewis replied that we can‘t rely on other towns to provide a ladder truck. The taxpayers in Bordentown didn’t approve buying a ladder truck to fight fires in Chesterfield. The ladder is needed for the new houses and the new school. Chip Katona stated that there are 5 schools in Mansfield Township and they don’t have a ladder. Doug Demeter, Fire Chief stated that the District is attempting to not duplicate firefighting equipment in case of a future merger. Mr. Durr asked what additional information the Commissioners need, as indicated in a letter sent to Chesterfield Hose Co., to decide this issue? Mr. Dubell stated that the Commissioners are not aware of what is being proposed. Mr. Kelly explained the results of the report that was prepared and the recommendations of that report. One board of commissioners and one district was proposed for the entire township. Mr. Durr stated that it is unfortunate that 2 years was wasted on studies and preparing reports that went nowhere. There were 2 independent reports that recommended the same thing. A letter was sent from District 2 to District 1 concerning the reports and District 1 responded that they did not have enough information to make a decision. Mr. Lewis stated that was a response to the District 2 letter, not to the report. Mr. Durr continued that it needs to be the decisions of the Fire Commissioners as to how this should be accomplished. The Township Committee has no authority in this matter unless petitioned by the residents. Mr. Kelly stated that the report was done with firefighter expertise with no pre-disposition to one solution or the other. The Commissioners should be thinking about the Township as a whole. Mr. Durr added that, if the Commissioners do not make a decision soon, the residents may make it for them. Getting back to the budget issues, Mr. Durr is not comfortable with the water charges or the insurance issues. The Township may be able to get more information on the length of water lines from the Township Engineer. If the information about the hydrants could be provided by March 19, the Committee could have a special meeting to make a decision in the time frame allotted. Jack Maley stated that he does not feel comfortable that the information needed can be provided in a timely manner. He recommends acting tonight and lowering the budget by $50,000 which amounts to one tax point. On a motion by Mr. Kelly and second by Mr. Durr, the Reserve for Future Capital Outlay in the amount of $20,000 will be reduced to $ -0-, and the Fire Hydrant rental will be reduced by $30,000. All agreed. A resolution will be prepared for the meeting of March 11. The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 PM on a motion by Mr. Kelly and second by Mr. Durr. All agreed. Respectfully submitted, |