Politics & Government

Council to Resume Discussion of 2013 Municipal Budget

Lawrence Township Council will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 19, starting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting's agenda and the township manager's traditional pre-meeting memo are presented here for review.

The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 19, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building at 2207 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206).

The meeting agenda and Township Manager Richard Krawczun’s traditional pre-meeting memo are available from the township’s website and the Patch media box to the right.

According to those documents, discussion of the recommended 2013 municipal budget will take place. Municipal Court Judge Kevin Nerwinski and Police Chief Daniel Posluszny are expected to make budget request presentations to council for their respective departments.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Council will also hear an appeal from representatives of Mother’s Recovery Inc. concerning the denial of their application to provide towing services to the township police department for 2013.

The agenda also shows that council will make an appointment to fill a previously vacant position on the Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as accept the resignation of another zoning board member, Edward Wiznitzer.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Two ordinances concerning the sale of township property are scheduled for introduction, an ordinance amending the township administrative code concerning recreation fees is scheduled for adoption, and 17 resolutions may be acted upon, according to the agenda.

 

For the convenience of readers, the contents of the meeting agenda are reproduced below:

Lawrence Township Council

  • Lawrence Township Municipal Building
  • Council Meeting Room – Upper Level
  • Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013
  • 6:30 P.M.

1. Mayor's Welcome and Roll Call

Statement Of Proper Notice: "Adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, has been provided through the posting of the annual meeting schedule of said Council in accordance with Section 13 of the Open Public Meetings Act."

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll Call

4. Special Proclamations, Recognitions and Presentations

A. Department Budget Presentations:

1) Municipal Court

2) Police Department

B. Appeal Hearing – Mother’s Recovery, Inc. – Towing Application Denial

5. Public Participation (5-minute limitation per speaker)

6. Review and Revision of the Agenda

7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings

A. Regular Meeting – June 6, 2012

B. Regular Meeting – June 19, 2012

C. Closed Session – December 18, 2012

D. Closed Session – January 8, 2013

*   *   *

Appointment to Boards and Committees – Zoning Board of Adjustment

*   *   *

8. Awarding and/or Rejecting of Bids (with public participation)

9. Introduction of Ordinances

A. Ordinance Authorizing The Private Sale Of Certain Lands Of The Township Of Lawrence, County Of Mercer, Not Needed For Public Use – Meriline Avenue

B. Ordinance Authorizing The Private Sale Of Certain Lands Of The Township Of Lawrence, County Of Mercer, Not Needed For Public Use – Rolfe Avenue, Glenn Avenue, Johnson Avenue

10. Adoption of Ordinances (with public participation)

A. An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 2139-12 Entitled An Ordinance Amending Chapter 6a, ‘Fees: The Consolidated License, Permit And Fee Chapter’ Of The Lawrence Township Administrative Code – Recreation Fees

11. Manager's Report

A. Discussion of 2013 Recommended Budget

12. Attorney's Report

13. Clerk's Report

14. Old Business

15. New Business

16. Public Participation (3-minute limitation per speaker)

17. Resolutions

A. Authorizing the Transfer of Snow Removal Other Expenses to Snow Removal Other Trust

B. Authorizing Participation in the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission for Supply of Electricity to Municipal Buildings

C. Authorizing Bus Stops on Quakerbridge Road

D. Authorizing Acceptance of Bonding for ETS – Master Plan Improvement, SP-04/03

E. Authorizing Refund from Collector’s Trust Account

F. Authorizing Refund of Duplicate Annual Fire Registration

G. Authorizing Refund of Tax Overpayment

H. Authorizing Continued Participation in the Mercer County Cooperative Purchasing System

I. Authorizing a Closed Session of Council Immediately Following the Regular Meeting, if necessary

J. Authorizing Amending the 2013 Temporary Budget

K. Authorizing the Transfer of 2012 Current Fund Appropriations

L. Authorizing Borden Perlman Insurance Company as Risk Management Consultants

M. Authorizing the Partial Release of Performance Bond for 3175 Princeton Pike, SP-09/12

N. Authorizing Amending the Professional Services Agreement for Township Attorney

O. Authorizing the Appointment of Special Counsel for Tax Matters

P. Authorizing Amending the Professional Services Agreement for Special Counsel for Labor Relations

Q. Authorizing a Refund to Novitas Solutions for Overpayment for Ambulance Services

18. Council Initiatives & Liaison Reports

19. Written Communications

A. Letter from Edward Wiznitzer Resigning from the Zoning Board of Adjustment

20. Executive Session (if authorized)

21. Adjournment

Next Council Meetings:

  • Tuesday, March 5, 2013
  • Tuesday, March 19, 2013

 

 

For the convenience of readers, the contents of the township manager’s memo are also reproduced below:

Upcoming Meeting 2/19/2013

Presentations

The Municipal Court Judge and Chief of Police will present their 2013 municipal budget requests.

An appeal hearing on the denial of a towing license for Mother’s Recovery Incorporated will be conducted.

Awarding or Rejection of Bids

There are no bid awards or rejections for consideration.

Introduction of Ordinances

There are two ordinances for introduction.

Ordinance 9-A authorizes the sale of Township owned property on Meriline Avenue by public auction. Bidders at the auction must be contiguous property owners. The successful bidder will be required to consolidate the parcel with their contiguous property. The purchased parcel will be restricted from being subdivided or utilized for construction of an additional dwelling. The successful bidder, in addition to the purchase price, will be responsible for paying the first $1,000 of legal fees incurred by Lawrence Township.

Ordinance 9-B authorizes the sale of four (4) Township owned parcels to contiguous property owners by public auction. The successful bidder may combine the purchased parcel with an adjoining lot for the purpose of creating a buildable lot. In addition to the purchase price the bidder will be responsible for paying the first $500 of legal fees incurred by Lawrence Township.

Adoption of Ordinances

There is one ordinance for adoption.

Ordinance 10-A amends the ordinance that establishes recreation fees. The change for the fee to use athletic fields will remain at the set hourly rate but will have a limit of $2,000 per month for a single user scheduled on multiple dates.

Manager’s Report

Discussion of 2013 recommended budget.

Resolutions

The agenda includes routine administrative authorizations as well as resolutions providing for refunds, bond releases and acceptances.

Resolution 17-A authorizes the transfer of unexpended 2012 Snow Removal appropriations to the Snow Removal Trust Fund. The amounts are Salary and Wages $27,715 and Other Expenses $16,900.

Resolution 17-B authorizes Lawrence Township to enter into a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission. Participation in the Commission will make available to Lawrence Township the ability to purchase goods and services at reduced pricing. The first commodity planned to be purchased is electricity.

Resolution 17-C authorizes the installation of two (2) bus stops along Quakerbridge Road adjacent to the Lawrence Square Village housing complex. Due to Quakerbridge Road being under the jurisdiction of Mercer County, the Board of Freeholders will also be required to approve the locations.

Resolution 17-H authorizes renewal of the agreement between Mercer County and Lawrence Township for the purpose of continuing the Township’s participation in the County Cooperative Purchasing program.

Resolution 17-J amends the 2013 temporary budget. The authorization will provide funding for that period of time until the final adoption of the 2013 budget.

Resolution 17-K authorizes the transfer of funds between 2012 budget appropriations.

Resolution 17-L appoints the firm of Borden Perlman Insurance Company as risk management consultant as required by the Township’s participation in the newly joined Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund. The risk management fee is $20,325 and is seven percent (7%) of the JIF assessment. Funding is available from the appropriation for general liability and worker compensation. This new structure replaces commissions that would have been paid under the previous self-insurance program.

Resolution 17-N amends the 2012 professional services contract of David Roskos for the providing of legal services on various township matters. The amount of the increase is $7,700 apportioned as follows; $1,500 for tax appeal matters, $1,200 for open space and $5,000 for affordable housing issues. The new contract maximum is $223,600. Funding is available from the 2012 appropriation for Legal Services Other Expenses and respective Trust Funds.

Resolution 17-O authorizes a professional services contract to Harry Haushalter, Esquire for the providing of Special Counsel legal services in conflict matters regarding tax appeals.

Resolution 17-P amends the 2012 professional services contract of Genova, Burns & Giantomasi for the providing of legal services on labor matters. The amount of the increase is $15,000 and the new contract maximum is $100,000. Funding is available from the 2012 appropriation for Legal Services Other Expenses.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions about the agenda or any other matter.

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here