MONTAGUE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

February 24, 2004

Minutes

Mayor Butto called the session to order at 8:10 p.m. and opened the meeting, stating that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, P.L. 1975, c. 231, and has been duly advertised.

The Clerk was asked to call the roll.

Present were: Committeeman Soracco, Deputy Mayor Barbagallo Committeeman Krebs, Mayor Butto, Helen F. Felter, Deputy Clerk, Denis G. Murphy, Attorney,

Betsy Cuneo, Clerk

Absent were: none

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

Minutes No minutes were submitted for approval.

Resolution Mayor Butto stated additional resolutions needed to be added to the agenda.

R2004-22 Bid Specs for a mini pumper for the fire department, R2004-23 Appointment of Deputy Clerk, R2004-24 Appointing Pat Wilcox to a clerical position. Deputy Mayor Barbagallo made a motion to approve the resolutions plus R2004-19 Outside Lien Redemption, R2004-20 Appointment of the Municipal Clerk, and R2004-21 Extending the Bruno Groups Contract. Committeeman Krebs seconded the motion which was carried by a roll call vote: Ayes: Deputy Mayor Barbagallo, Committeeman Krebs, Committeeman Zitone, Committeeman Soracco, and Mayor Butto. Nays: none

Old Business Mrs. Fran Multari, tax collector, sent a memo to the Township Committee informing the committee about block 8 lot 48 which is currently owned by Mrs. Kleinman. Mrs. Kleinman would like to donate the property to the township. Attorney Murphy stated that Mrs. Kleinman must have a title search on the property that shows there are no any other liens or mortgages on the property other than the $172.09 due for taxes. Attorney Murphy continued that a hearing must be held and that Mrs. Kleinman would be responsible for municipal charges. The committee agreed to accept the property with the $172.09 tax lien based on the knowledge that there are no known mortgages or liens other than the tax amount. Deputy Mayor Barbagallo moved to approve same and was seconded by Committeeman Soracco. Roll call vote: Ayes: Deputy Mayor Barbagallo, Committeeman Krebs, Committeeman Zitone, Committeeman Soracco, and Mayor Butto. Nays: none

Mr. Carl Ardler owner of Block 19.03 Lot 18. Mayor Butto informed the committee that Mr. Ardler purchased the property at a foreclosure sale and would like to donate it back to the township. Attorney Murphy will investigate this matter and inform the committee of his findings so that this matter can be settled.

A road survey for Piney Road, Bills Land, Ridge Road, and New Myrtle Drive was presented. Mayor Butto read the following survey: Sixty-one letters were sent to the residents,forty-three residents responded, two letters were undeliverable. The numbers break down to Piney Road 0-for 9-against; Bills Lane 1-for 9-against 1-undecided; Ridge Road 1-for 7-against; and New Myrtle Drive 5-for 8-against 1-undecided. Committeeman Zitone stated that the roads are in bad shape and how difficult it is to maintain them, and expressed the difficulty an emergency vehicle would have driving on these poorly maintained roads. Committeeman Zitone made a motion to authorize engineering costs for the above mentioned roads and Deputy Mayor Barbagallo seconded the motion. A roll call was vote was held: Ayes - 0, Nays - Deputy Mayor Barbagallo, Committeeman Krebs, Committeeman Soracco, Committeeman Zitone, and Mayor Butto. Deputy Mayor Barbagallo withdrew his motion. Committeeman Zitone stated he would speak to Mr. O'Krepky concerning this matter and will inform the committee of his findings at the March 9, 2004 meeting.

Applications for Blue Light Permits Applications for Blue Light Permits for Matthew Crann, Douglas Drake, and John Schultz were presented by Mayor Butto and moved to approve same. Committeeman Krebs seconded the motion and it was unanimously carried.

Resignations Mayor Butto stated that the resignations were previously handled by the above resolutions.

New Business Mr. Vic Dai, Construction Official would like to change the driveway ordinance to include a $50 fee for the driveway inspection. A brief discussion was held to reduce the suggested fee to $25. Deputy Mayor Barbagallo moved to approve the new fee, seconded by Committeeman Krebs. A roll call vote followed: Ayes - 0, Nays - Barbagallo, Krebs, Soracco, Zitone, and Butto.

Mr. David Coss, Chief of the Montague Township Fire Department made a request to the committee for an ordinance to have a criminal history check. It was determined that Mr. Coss needs to address the following: Who pays for this check? Who does the history check? No action will be taken on this matter until these questions are answered.

Approval of Vouchers No vouchers were presented.

Correspondence A letter from the Sussex County Sheriffs Department with regard to Crimestoppers "Community Watch Signs" was read by Mayor Butto. Mayor Butto instructed Mrs. Felter to post this letter to High Point Corporation.

Public Participation Mayor Butto made a motion to open the floor to the public which was seconded by Committeeman Soracco. Mr. Finegan, Clean Communities Coordinator came forward to speak. Mr. Finegan informed the committee that he reviewed the vouchers and was disappointed in the amount the township had received. Mr. Finegan plans on holding an assembly with the children in the future. The Township Committee thanked Mr. Finegan for his hard work.

Mrs. Rose Keefer owner of Block 18 Lot 11 explained she put a deposit of $406.70 for the lot on October 10, 2002. Mrs. Keefer paid the balance due of $3,660.30 on October 21, 2002. Shortly after paying the balance, Mrs. Keefer ordered a title search on the property. The Sterling Title Agency informed Mrs. Keefer she needed to have the foreclosure redone because the township took possession under the wrong name. Mrs. Keefer made several attempts to correct this situation. Attorney Murphy stated that Mrs. Keefer had two options. Money could be refunded to Mrs. Keefer and the property could then be placed back into the foreclosure sale or she could keep it. Deputy Mayor Barbagallo made a motion to give a refund back to Mrs. Keefer, Committeeman Krebs seconded the motion. A roll call vote was held: Ayes - Committeeman Krebs, Committeeman Barbagallo, Committeeman Soracco, Committeeman Zitone, Mayor Butto. Nays: None

Mrs. Linda Smith of Bills Lane suggested that the township repair the Piney, Bills Lane, Ridge Road, and New Myrtle Drive. Mrs. Smith stated that perhaps the cost would be less if the township were to repair all the roads at once. The committee thanked her for her opinion.

Mr. Dan Butaro of Pike Dispatch questioned what appointments took place tonight. Mayor Butto informed Mr. Butaro.

Deputy Mayor Barbagallo moved to close the public participation portion of the meeting, seconded by Committeeman Soracco.

Adjourn Mayor Butto made a motion to close the meeting, Committeeman Soracco seconded the motion. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was closed at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Cuneo

Municipal Clerk