Council to Vote Tonight on New User Fee for Bulk Trash Pickup

The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place today, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 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, council tonight will vote whether or not to approve the four ordinances that were introduced at the Dec. 4 council meeting, including the one creating a user fee for bulk trash pickup. Prior to council members voting, members of the public will be given an opportunity to offer comment on each of the ordinances.

Four other ordinances will be introduced at the meeting, according to the agenda. These ordinances, if approved at a subsequent council meeting, will make changes to the township’s Land Use Ordinance; allow bond proceeds to be used for the installation of a storage shed at the Twin Pines athletic fields; merge the Environmental Resources Committee and Green Team into a single committee; and combine the Greenway Committee and the Open Space and Stewardship Advisory Committee into a single committee.

There will be no opportunity tonight for public comment on these ordiances as they are introduced; comments in reference to these four ordinances must, instead, be made during the general public participation period at the start of the meeting, prior to the ordinances' introduction.

Thirteen resolutions are also listed on the agenda. Among these are resolutions authorizing: the re-appointment of Reed Gusciora as municipal prosecutor for 2013; the firing of muskets and canon during the township’s annual Col. Hand historical reenactment; and ratification of the township’s labor contract with the police union (provided that a final draft of the contract is completed in time.)

Slackwood Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Michael Oakley is also scheduled to make a presentation about why the fire company’s 1991 snorkel fire truck needs to be replaced.  

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

Lawrence Township Council

• Lawrence Township Municipal Building
• Council Meeting Room – Upper Level
• Tuesday, December 18, 2012
• 6:30 P.M.

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Mayor's Welcome and Roll Call

Statement Of Proper Notice: "Adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 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."3. Proclamations and Honors

4. Review and Revision of the Agenda

Presentation by Michael Oakley, Chief of Slackwood Fire Company, Regarding Apparatus Replacement Needs

5. Public Participation

6. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings

7. Introduction of Ordinances

A. Ordinance Amending The Land Use Ordinance Of The Township Of Lawrence To Revise Article Xii, Administration, Enforcement, Violations And Penalties

B. Bond Ordinance Amending Bond Ordinance 1978-08 By The Township Of Lawrence, County Of Mercer, State Of New Jersey, In Order To Revise The Description Of The Improvement Herein

C. An Ordinance Creating The Environmental Resources And Sustainability Green Advisory Committee

D. An Ordinance Creating A Trails, Open Space And Stewardship Advisory Committee

8. Resolutions

A. Authorizing the Appointment of School Traffic Guards for the 2012-2013 School Year

B. Authorizing the Firing of Muskets and Canon During the Col. Hand Reenactment March

C. Authorizing the Appointment of Municipal Prosecutor for 2013

D. Authorizing the 2013 Towing List

E. Authorizing the Refund Collector’s Trust Account

F. Authorizing Mayor to Sign a Grant Agreement with DVRPC for the Johnson Trolley Line Missing Link Feasibility Study

G. Authorizing Transfer of 2012 Current Fund Appropriations

H. Authorizing Amending the Agreement for the Traffic Consultant to the Zoning Board

I. Authorizing Purchase of Three Unmarked 2013 Ford Interceptors from State Contract Vendor

J. Authorizing Refund of Escrow for 15 Van Kirk Road, IP-22/12

K. Authorizing Amending the Agreement with the Township Attorney for Tax Matters and Inspections

L. Authorizing the Ratification of the Police Union Contract (if final draft is completed)

M. Authorizing a Closed Session of Council Immediately Following the Regular Meeting to Discuss Sale of Township Property and Litigation – Paff v Township of Lawrence

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

10. Adoption of Ordinances (* with public participation)

A. An Ordinance Amending The Consolidated License, Permit And Fee Chapter Of The Lawrence Township Administrative Code – Recreation Fees

B. An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 2079-11 Amending The Consolidated License, Permit And Fee Chapter Of The Lawrence Township Administrative Code – Zoning Fees

C. An Ordinance Amending And Supplementing Chapter 6a Of The Administrative Code Of The Township Of Lawrence Establishing And Implementing Fees For Emergency Medical Services

D. An Ordinance Amending The Consolidated License, Permit And Fee Chapter Of The Lawrence Administrative Code – Bulk Waste Collection User Fee

11. Manager's Report

A. Invoice Listing – November 2012

12. Attorney's Report

13. Clerk's Report

14. Council Initiatives/Liaison Reports

15. Written Communications

A. 2012 Treasurer’s Report – Year to Present

16. Old Business

17. New Business

18. Executive Session (if authorized)

19. Adjournment

Next Council Meetings

• Tuesday, January 8, 2013
• Tuesday, January 22, 2013

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

Upcoming Meeting 12/18/2012

Presentation

Michael Oakley, Fire Chief Slackwood Fire Company to appear regarding fire apparatus replacement.

Introduction of Ordinances

There are four ordinances for introduction.

Ordinance 7-A amends the Lawrence Township Municipal Land Use Ordinance (LUO) for the purpose of codifying procedures that are being utilized when applying the requirements of the LUO. Matters addressed are the processes for the issuance of zoning permits for business occupancy and certificates of occupancy, clarification of the duties of the Zoning Officer, the requirements for a zoning permit and development of appropriate forms.

Ordinance 7-B amends Ordinance 1978-08 by expanding the authorized purposes that bond proceeds may be utilized. The additional purpose is an equipment storage shed that will be placed at the Twin Pines athletic fields.

Ordinance 7-C authorizes that the Environmental Resources Committee and Green Team be combined into a single committee to be known as the Environmental Resources and Sustainability Green Advisory Committee.

Ordinance 7-D authorizes that the Greenway Committee and the Open Space and Stewardship Advisory Committee be combined into a single committee to be known as the Trails, Open Space and Stewardship Advisory Committee.

Resolutions

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

Resolution 8-C authorizes the appointment of Reed Gusciora, Esquire as the Lawrence Township Municipal Prosecutor for 2013.

Resolution 8-D approves the towing companies which are authorized to operate within Lawrence Township during calendar year 2013.

Resolution 8-G authorizes the transfer of funds between 2012 current fund appropriations.

Resolution 8-H amends the professional services agreement of James Kochenour, P.E. of Arora and Associates for services as Traffic Consultant to the Zoning Board by increasing the contract amount $20,000.00 for review fees. The new contract maximum is $30,000. Funding will be made available from applicant escrow fees.

Resolution 8-I authorizes the utilization of a State Contract Vendor for the purchase of three (3) marked police cars. The amount of the purchase is $88,659. Funding is available from the 2012 appropriation for Police Department Other Expenses and the self-insurance trust fund. The insurance funds are to replace a car that was totaled in a motor vehicle accident.

Resolution 8-K amends the professional services agreement of David Roskos, Esquire of Sterns & Weinroth for services as Municipal Attorney on tax appeal and site plan matters. The amount of this amendment is $20,000. The new contract maximum is $215,900. Funding is available from the appropriation for Legal Services Other Expenses and applicant escrow fees.

Resolution 8-L authorizes ratification of the labor agreement between the Fraternal Order of Police and Township of Lawrence. Action on this item is contingent upon final contract language being completed.

Award of Bids

There are no bid awards or rejections on the agenda.

Adoption of Ordinances

There are four ordinances for adoption.

Ordinance 10-A authorizes increases to various recreational program fees.

Ordinance 10-B authorizes the establishment of zoning permit fees for residential and commercial purposes. The new fees are estimated to generate approximately $20,000 in annual revenue.

Ordinance 10-C amends existing fees and authorizes new fees for Emergency Medical Services. The transport fee will increase from $675.00 to $785.00. The mileage charge will increase from $10.00 to $15.00 per mile calculated one way; the oxygen charge will increase from $60 to $70. New fees will be authorized for cervical collars and extrication from motor vehicles. In addition, the ordinance will authorize balance billing for both residents and non-residents.

Ordinance 10-D authorizes the establishment of a bulk collection service fee for residential properties that receive curb side collection services. The ordinance permits the fee to be set annually by resolution of the governing body between $0 and $55.00.

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