Formal Introduction of 2013 Municipal Budget Set for Tonight, Meeting Agenda Shows

The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place today, Tuesday, March 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.

Fifteen resolutions – including one authorizing the introduction of the 2013 municipal budget – are scheduled for action by township council, according to the agenda.

One bid award (for the repaving of Bunker Hill Road) and two ordinance introductions are also scheduled. One of those ordinances, if approved at a subsequent council meeting, will change the zoning designation for a 37-acre parcel located along Quakerbridge Road where Costco Wholesale Corp. has expressed interest in building a store.     

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, March 19, 2013
• 6:30 P.M.

1. Mayor's Welcome

STATEMENT OF PROPER NOTICE: "Adequate notice of this meeting of the Lawrence Township Council being held on Tuesday, March 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. Cub Scout Honorees for Clean Up at Veterans’ Park

• Liam Collins
• Adam DallePazze
• Colby Davis
• Michael Kang-Spano
• Noah Lehrfeld
• Sam Lovvoll
• Zachary Mlodzinski
• David John Porsche
• James Sannella
• Jonathan Tyliczka
• Nicholas Tyliczka

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

6. Review and Revision of the Agenda

7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings

A. Special Meeting – May 17, 2012

B. Regular Meeting – August 21, 2012

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

A. Authorizing Awarding Bid to Arawak Paving Company, Inc. for the 2012 Road

Improvement Program – Bunker Hill Road

9. Introduction of Ordinances

A. Ordinance Amending The Land Use Ordinance Of The Township Of Lawrence To Repeal Seciton 412a (Pvd-3) And Amend The Zoning Map

B. An Ordinance Establishing An Appropriation Cap Bank

10. Adoption of Ordinances (* with public participation)

11. Manager's Report

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 LOSAP Eligibility for Lawrenceville Fire Company Members

B. Authorizing LOSAP Eligibility for Lawrence Road Fire Company Members

C. Authorizing LOSAP Eligibility for Slackwood Volunteer Fire Company Members

D. Authorizing a Closed Session of Council Immediately Following the Regular Meeting to Discuss Carriage Park and Simone Litigation

E. Authorizing Second Quarter Payroll Services

F. Authorizing the Release of Off-Site Performance Bond for The Gatherings, SP-06/12

G. Authorizing the Release of Site Performance Bond for The Gatherings, Sp-06/12

H. Authorizing Amending the Professional Services Agreement for Sterns and Weinroth for Tax Appeals, Inspections and Open Space

I. Authorizing Amending the Temporary Budget for 2013

J. Authorizing the Transfer of 2012 Current Fund Appropriations

K. Authorizing Amending the Contract with iXP

L. Authorizing Fee for Bulk Waste Collection

M. Authorizing Open Space Levy for the 2013 Municipal Budget

N. Authorizing Self-Examination of the 2013 Municipal Budget

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Resolution Authorizing the Introduction of the 2013 Municipal Budget

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18. Council Initiatives & Liaison Reports

19. Written Communications

20. Executive Session (if authorized)

21. Adjournment

Next Council Meetings

• Tuesday – April 2, 2013
• Tuesday – April 16, 2013

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

Upcoming Meeting 3/19/2013

Awarding or Rejection of Bids

There is one bid award for consideration.

Resolution 8-A authorizes a bid award to Arawak Paving Company, Incorporated of Hammonton, New Jersey for the repaving of Bunker Hill Road. The amount of the contract is $187,300. Funding is available from the 2012 capital improvement program.

Introduction of Ordinances

There are two ordinances for introduction.

Ordinance 9-A amends the Lawrence Township Municipal Land Use Ordinance. The action will repeal the Planned Village Development 3 (PVD III) district and apply the Highway Commercial district use on Quakerbridge Road where it intersects with Lawrence Station Road. This is the only PVD III district in the Township so there is no longer a need to retain it in the Land Use Ordinance.

Ordinance 9-B authorizes an appropriation CAP bank. (To be provided upon final preparation.)

Adoption of Ordinances

There are no ordinances for adoption.

Resolutions

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

Resolutions 17-A, B & C certify eligibility of participation in the Length of Service Awards Program for volunteer firefighters whom are members of Lawrenceville Fire Company, Lawrence Road Fire Company and Slackwood Fire Company. Eligibility is based upon a point system where firefighters are given credits for participation in specified activities of the respective fire companies. Firefighters that earn one-hundred twenty-five points (125) will be credited $500 toward a retirement account in their name. The program was approved by voter referendum. The total contribution for 2012 activities to be made in 2013 is $34,000.

Resolution 17-E authorizes the second quarter contract with ADP, Incorporated for the providing of payroll services. The second quarter contract amount is $4,624.98.

Resolution 17-H amends the professional services contract of David Roskos, Esquire of Sterns & Weinroth for the providing of various legal services. The contract increases are for; Tax Appeals $20,000, Site Plan/Sub-Division Inspections $5,000 and Open Space $1,000. The new contract maximum is $81,000. Funding is available from the appropriation for Legal Services, Other Expenses, Site Plan/Sub-Division Trust Fund and the Open Space Trust Fund.

Resolution 17-I authorizes an amendment to the 2013 temporary budget.

Resolution 17-J authorizes the transfer of funds between 2012 appropriation reserves.

Resolution 17-K authorizes an amendment to the contract between iXP Corporation and Lawrence Township. The amount of the contract amendment is $6,500. The amendment is not for dispatching services. The purpose of the change order is to pay for costs associated with the relocation of holding cell video surveillance equipment. The work was planned for in the normal course of operations. Three vendors were contacted for pricing and two of the vendors were not able to complete the work within the required time limits.

Resolution 17-L establishes the bulk collection fee at $25.00 for 2013.

Resolution 17-M establishes the open space tax rate at three-cents for 2013. This amount remains unchanged from 2012.

Resolution 17-N authorizes the Chief Financial Officer to conduct a self-examination of the 2013 municipal budget.

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