OPENING STATEMENT
Mayor Barbagallo called the meeting to order and stated that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act  PL. 1975 C. 231 and has been duly advertised.

FLAG SALUTE
All present were asked to salute the flag.

ROLL CALL
Those present were Mr. Brace, Mr. Brislin, Mr. Teufert, Mr. Utter and Diana Francisco, Clerk.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS
Mr. Teufert motioned to open to the public.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor. No one from the public spoke.  Mr. Teufert motioned to close to the public. Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

MINUTES
Regular Session 12-26-2007,   Executive Session 12-11-2007, 12-26-2007 and Reorganization Minutes.
Mr. Brislin  motioned to approve the minutes.   Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.    Mr. Brace seconded the motion. The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote. Teufert, abstain.

APPOINTMENTS
Attorney
Mr. Brislin motioned to appoint Sarcini and Hollenbeck, LLC, as Township Attorney.
Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

Special Counsel
Mr. Brislin motioned to remove Special Counsel from the Agenda.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a majority roll call vote.  VOTE: Mr. Brace, no, Mr. Brislin, yes, Mr.Teufert, yes, Mr. Utter, no, Mr. Barbagallo, yes.

Township Auditor/Accountants
Mr. Brislin motioned to appoint Dickinson, Vrabel and  Cassels as Township Auditor.  Mr. Barbagallo seconded the motion. Mr. Brislin with drew his motion.
Mr. Brislin motioned to table appointment, Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

Engineer for Tax Maps
Mr. Brislin motioned to table appointment and to request the Clerk to obtain a price quote from Mazur Consultants.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

Solid Waste Coordinator/Clean Communities
Mr. Brislin motioned to table appointment and to interview the candidate who submitted a resume.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with a majority roll call vote. VOTE: Mr. Brace, no: Mr. Brislin, yes: Mr. Teufert, Yes, Mr. Utter, no, Mr. Barbagallo.

Soil Erosion Sediment Officer
Mr. Utter motioned to appoint the Township Engineer.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

208 Representative
Mr. Brace motioned to appoint the Township Engineer.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

Township Planner
Mr. Brislin motioned to appoint Mazur Consultant as Township Planner at $90 per hour. Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was not carried by a majority vote.  VOTE: Mr. Brace, no, Mr. Brislin, yes,  Mr. Teufert no, Mr. Utter, no, Mr. Barbagallo no.
Mr. Brace motioned to appoint Fred Suljic as Township Planner, Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried was carried by a majority roll call vote.  VOTE: Mr. Brace yes, Mr. Brislin, no, Mr. Teufert yes, Mr. Utter, yes, Mr. Barbagallo yes.
 
Contract for Municipal Plumbing sub code Services Pursuant to Inter local Services Act

Contract for Municipal Electrical sub code Services Pursuant to Interlobar Services Act
Mr. Brace motioned to approve the Electrical Subcode Agreement and the Plumbing Sub Code agreement.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

Multi Year  Appointments
CFO/Treasurer
Mr. Brislin motioned to table appointment until after executive session.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion. ROLL CALL Mr. Brace no; Mr. Brislin, Yes; Mr. Teufert no;   Mr. Utter no, Mr. Barbagallo no.  Mr. Utter motioned to go into Executive Session.  Mr. Utter withdrew his motioned, 
Mr. Utter motioned to appoint Gail Magura to the CFO/Treasurer position for a 4 year term.   Mr. Brace seconded the motion to appoint Gail Magura to CFO/ Treasurer position. The motion was carried by a majority roll call vote.  VOTE; Mr. Brace, yes; Mr. Brislin, abstain, Mr. Teufert, yes; Mr. Utter, yes; Mr. Barbagallo yes.

Township Engineer
Mr. Utter  motioned to appoint KSM to the Engineer position for a 3 year term. Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a majority vote. Vote; Mr. Brace, yes; Mr. Brislin, no; Mr. Terfuert, yes; Mr. Utter, yes; Mr. Barbagallo, yes.

Mr. Barbagallo appointed the following residents to the Land Use Board
Land Use Board
           Class 1: Mayor=s Designee- Jason Dunn
           Class 2: One (1) Official of the Municipality, not from the Committee- 1 yr-Sharon Tufaro
           Class 3: One (1) Member of the Governing Body appointed by the Governing Body- 1 yr -   Charles Teufert
           Class 4: Citizens appointed by the Mayor on recommendations from the majority of the Committee
                       (2)   4 Year Term: expires 12-31-2011  Richard Inella, and Darren Ponce
                       (1)   Alt. 2 Term: expires12-31-2009   Glen Plotsky
Mr. Utter motioned to approve Class III and Class IV members.  Mr. Brislin seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor. 

Administrative Structure
Administrative:        Chair           Mr. Barbagallo
                              Co-Chair      Mr. Teufert
Health and Welfare: Chair           Mr. Utter
                              Co-Chair     Mr. Brace
Public Works:          Chair          Mr. Teufert
                              Co-Chair     Mr. Barbagallo
Finance:                  Chair          Mr. Utter
                              Co-Chair     Mr. Brislin
Public Safety:          Chair          Mr. Brace
                              Co-Chair     Mr. Brislin

Recreation Committee-
Mayor Barbagallo appointed Charles Teufert to represent the Committee.  Mr. John Donavan, Beverly Berego, Lori Coss, Ken Oconnor, Diana Sternfield, John Soracco, Darren Ponce, Diane Brauchle, Malonie Lyons, and Tascha DeGeorge.  Mr. Oconnor respectfully declined.

BILLS LIST
Mr. Utter  motioned to table bills list until later in the meeting.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

RESOLUTIONS
R 2008-004    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Mr. Brace motioned to adopt  R 2008-004. Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by unanimous roll call vote.

R 2008-005    AUTHORIZATION FOR ASSESSOR AND ATTORNEY TO DEFEND  APPEALS, etc.
Mr. Teufert motioned to adopt R 2008-005.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

R 2008-009    CANCELLATION OF TAX OVERPAYMENTS OR DELINQUENT AMOUNTS  LESS THAN $10.00
Mr. Brace motioned to adopt R 2008-009.  Mr. Utter seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

R 2008-010    OUTSIDE LIEN REDEMPTION
Mr. Brislin motioned to adopt R 2008-010.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion. The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

R 2008-011     RESOLUTION APPOINTING A MUNICIPAL HOUSING LIAISON
Mr. Brace motion to adopt R 2008-011.  Mr. Utter seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

R 2008-012     INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT : ELECTRICAL SUB CODE SERVICES

R 2008-013     INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT : PLUMBING SUB CODE SERVICES
Mr. Brislin motioned to adopt R 2008-012 and R 2008-013.  Mr. Utter seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Tractor/Mower Bids 
Mr. Brislin motioned to table bid award. Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

Coss Lane Drainage
Mr. Brace motioned to table discussion.  Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

Housing Official Request for changes to the Housing Registration Ordinance. There was a brief discussion regarding what would determine whether or not it is a rental unit. Mr. Barbagallo was against registering and inspecting  rental units on an annual basis. It was his opinion that they should only pay a fee when the apartment becomes vacant.   Discussion to continue for next meeting. 

Gypsy Moth 2008 Aerial Spray Suppression Program
Mr. Barbagallo stated he will be attending a meeting on January 11, 2008, with the Department of Agriculture regarding the Spray Program.
Mr. Teufert motioned to have the Clerk respond to the Department of Agriculture pointing out that some of the land described in their correspondence which is included in the spray blocks belong to  the State of NJ and the Federal Government.
Mr. Utter seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

Cell Tower
Mr. Teufert motioned to have the current Attorney  review the Cellco file and table until next meeting.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor. 

REPORTS
Tax Collector- Taxes Collected for Month of December 2007 was reported $91,913.90 and $7,934,638.97 for the year 2007.

CORRESPONDENCE
NJDOT regarding Overlook Drive- (Resurfacing was denied for 2008 by the State of NJ)
COAH Update

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr. Brace motioned to open to the public. Mr. Teufert seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

-Mark Krebs commented on the Weider Rd resurfacing project and also commented on the cell tower.

-Reginald Cole commented on the cost of the Coss Lane drainage project and equipment.  He also suggested we let our township attorney review the cell tower file.

 -Louanne Cular commented on the Tractor Mower Bids and the Gypsy Moth Program.  Mr.  Barbagallo asked Ms. Cular if reports are available for 911 calls and Blue Ridge Rescue Squad calls.  Her response was that reports are available and can be obtained from Newton Dispatch, the Blue Ridge Captain and/or the NJ State Police by the Township Clerk.

-Jody Case-Kennedy commented on the progress of sharing information regarding rental units between the Township Officials and CCHP.

Mr. Teufert motioned to close to the public.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

Mr. Teufert motioned to go into executive session to discuss litigation and personnel issues.
Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor. 

   WHEREAS, the Township of Montague, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, finds it necessary to discuss matters relating to litigation and personnel,
      WHEREAS, the Township Committee of the Township of Montague believes, it to be in the best interest of the public to discuss only those matters in closed session.
      NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of Montague, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, that it shall enter into closed session to discuss only matters mentioned above, the result of which may be made public immediately thereafter or at a later date.

The Township Committee returned from executive session and the meeting resumed.

Mr. Brace motioned to pay bills with the exception of number 709 Interstate Battery charge of $75.00.   Mr. Utter seconded the motion.  The motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

ADJOURN
Mr. Teufert motioned to adjourn meeting.  Mr. Brace seconded the motion.  The motion was carried with all in favor.

Submitted by,

Diana Francisco
Clerk