OPENING STATEMENT
Mayor Barbagallo opened the meeting at 7:01 announcing that adequate notice had been provided to the New Jersey Herald and the Sunday New Jersey Herald for publication in which notice was given of the date, time, place and general agenda of meetings in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

FLAG SALUTE
All present were asked to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL
Present were Mr. Brace, Mr. Ponce, Mr. Teufert, Mayor Barbagallo, Attorney Garofalo and Clerk Francisco. Mr. Zitone was excused..

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Barbagallo indicated a letter to be added to the agenda.

MINUTES
Mr. Brace motioned to approve the regular and executive session minutes of November 10, 2009. Mr. Teufert seconded, and the motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

RESOLUTIONS

R 2009-95
CANCELLATION OF PRIOR YEAR UNCOLLECTIBLE TAXES AND REFUND
Mr. Brace made a motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Teufert seconded, and the motion was carried with a unanimous roll call vote.

R 2009-96
EMERGENCY RESOLUTION N.J.S.A. 40A:4-48
Mr. Teufert motioned to approve the resolution. Mr. Brace seconded, and the motion was carried by a unanimous roll call vote.

Mayor Barbagallo made a motion to send a letter to the Construction Sub Code Official informing him he will not be reappointed effective December 11, 2009. Mr. Teufert seconded, and the motion was carried by a majority roll call vote, with Mr. Brace voting No.

ORDINANCES

(First Reading)
ORD 2009-22
AN ORDINANCE FIXING SALARIES OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTAGUE FOR THE YEAR 2009
Mr. Teufert motioned to table the Ordinance. Mr. Brace seconded, and the motion was carried with a unanimous roll call vote.

(Second Reading)
ORD 2009-20
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 54 RECYCLING WITH AN UPDATED SOURCE SEPARATION AND RECYCLING
Mr. Teufert motioned to approve the ordinance. Mr. Ponce seconded the motion. Mr. Teufert motioned to open to the public. Mr. Brace seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. No one from the public wished to be heard. Mr. Brace made a motion to close to the public. Mr. Teufert seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. The main motion carried with a unanimous roll call vote.

ORD 2009-21
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 DOGS §34-2 AND 34-3 AND CHAPTER 18 FEES AND COSTS §18-34A AND 18-34B
Mr. Teufert made a motion to approve the ordinance. Mr. Ponce seconded. Mr. Teufert motioned to open to the public. Mr. Brace seconded. No member of the public wished to speak. Mr. Teufert motioned to close to the public. Mr. Brace seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. The main motion carried with a unanimous roll call vote.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Fire Truck
Fire Chief Jesse Brace presented the committee with the technical specifications and requested that attorney Garofalo review the same. Mr. Garofalo indicated that there would not be enough time to allow for the purchase before the more stringent state mandates take effect in 2010. Jesse Brace also requested the attorney look over various ‘lease-to-buy’ options available.

Property Next Door to Municipal Building - Appraisal
Mayor Barbagallo indicated an appraisal had been received in the amount of $151,000.00. Mr. Brace made a motion to have attorney Garofalo send a letter to the property owner offering $151,000.00 with the explanation that the amount is the highest the township can legally offer . Mr. Ponce seconded, and the motion carried with a majority roll call vote, Mr. Teufert voting No.

REPORTS

Clean Communities and Recycling - Toni-Lu Martin advised the committee that through the hard work of volunteers she was able to increase the grant from $1, 993.00 to $ 5,656.00, or an increase of 184%.

CORRESPONDENCE

Board of Education - Special School District Election to be held Tuesday, January 26, 2010. Mayor Barbagallo explained that the school is going to have a referendum regarding a new roof estimated at $300,000, 40% of which will be paid for by a State grant.

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

Eric Hamill on behalf of 431 Rt. 206 LLC expressed his interest that their relationship with the township move forward in an expeditious manner.

Al Johns, owner of Rt. 431 Rt. 206 LLC expressed his extreme displeasure over purported actions by the construction department, and cautioned the committee to make sure the new construction official is in all ways qualified for the job.

Mayor Barbagallo saw Brian Van Wagner in the audience, and noting his recent return from Afghanistan, thanked him for his service to our country. The public joined in with applause.

With no one else wishing to be heard, Mr. Teufert motioned to close public session. Mr. Brace seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor.

John De Jager was on hand to answer questions from the committee in the form of a job interview for the construction official position. He explained that he is the Construction Official and Building Inspector in Hampton, Fredon and Sandyston and has worked in that capacity for nine years. He added that he holds an HHS Inspector Class I license, Construction Official, Building Inspector, and Inspector of Hotel and Multiple Dwellings licenses as well. He told the committee what he is being paid by the other municipalities, and confirmed availability to start in Montague in early December.

Mayor Barbagallo advised the committee and the public that the township tax map will hopefully be complete before the end of 2009.

There was a short discussion regarding the possibility of shared services regarding the construction department.

ADJOURN
Mr. Teufert made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Brace seconded the motion, and it was carried with all in favor.

Submitted by,

DIANA FRANCISCO, RMC
Municipal Clerk