Politics & Government

Lawrence Council Meeting Agenda Available for Review

The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place today, Thursday, Nov. 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building at 2207 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206).

The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place today, Thursday, Nov. 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building at 2207 Lawrence Rd. (Route 206).

Council meetings are normally held on Tuesday evenings, but this meeting was pushed back to today because of the general election that was held earlier this week.

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.

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According to those documents, discussion of the 2013 municipal budget will continue at tonight’s meeting. Related to that discussion, Recreation Superintendent Steve Groeger will make a presentation about the recreation department’s budget.

Twenty-seven resolutions are listed on the agenda. Several of these pertain to the sale of property owned by the township, while others concern increases to the professional services contracts that exist between the township and attorneys David Roskos and George Dougherty for legal services related to insurance claims, tax appeals and zoning board matters.

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The agenda also shows that one ordinance is scheduled for introduction, another ordinance is slated for adoption, and one bid award is set to be approved.

 

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
  • Thursday, November 8, 2012
  • 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 Thursday, November 8, 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."

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Review and Revision of the Agenda

4. Public Participation

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings

A. Closed Session – August 21, 2012

B. Closed Session – September 4, 2012

6. Introduction of Ordinances

A. Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2050-10 Known As The Salary Ordinance Of The Township Of Lawrence Unclassified And/Or Exempt, Seasonal, Emergency (Non-Union) Employees For 2010-2013

7. Resolutions

A. Authorizing Fire Company Membership

B. Authorizing a Professional Services Contract with Vital Communications for On-Line Data Processing for Period of January 1, 2013 thru December 31, 2013

C. Authorizing the Sale of Township Property – Parcel #6 - Lake Drive, Block 1506, Lot 25-27

D. Authorizing the Sale of Township Property – Parcel #11 – Alcazar Avenue, Block 2306, Lot 12.02

E. Authorizing the Sale of Township Property – Parcel #12 – Emden Avenue, Block 2317, Lot 5

F. Authorizing the Sale of Township Property – Parcel #15 – Albermarle Road and Johnson Avenue, Block 2326, Lots 15-17

G. Authorizing the Sale of Township Property – Parcel #16 – Review Avenue, Block 2406, Lot 21

H. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Drunk Driving Enforcement in the Amount of $10,950.69

I. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Radon Testing Kits in the Amount of $396.00

J. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Safety Town Program in the Amount of $1,000.00

K. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Communicable Disease Services – Hepatitis B Immunizations in the Amount of $273.24

L. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation in the amount of $3,021.93

M. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Tanning Establishment Inspections in the Amount of $200.00

N. Authorizing a Special Item of Revenue for Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Crackdown in the Amount of $2,850.00

O. Authorizing a Construction Permit Fee Refund

P. Authorizing a Closed Session of Council Immediately Following the Regular Meeting

to Discuss Labor Negotiations (formal action may or may not be taken after returning to Open session)

Q. Authorizing Tax Overpayment Refund

R. Authorizing Support of A-3393 Legislation to Protect Residential Property Taxpayers from the Loss of Telecommunications Tax Support

S. Authorizing Refund of Escrow to Paul Pennacchi, IP-23/12

T. Authorizing Maintenance Bond Release for Rider University (West Village Housing), SP-07/07

U. Authorizing Maintenance Bond Release for Rider University (Turf Field), SP-07/08

V. Authorizing Amending the Professional Services Contract with Sterns and Weinroth, Municipal Attorney, to Increase the Amount for Insurance and Tax Matters

W. Authorizing Amending the Professional Services Contract with Katz and Dougherty, Special Counsel for Zoning Board to Increase the Amount for Simone Matter

X. Authorizing Refund of Escrow to BPJ Holding/Jasna Polana Estates, SP-09/00

Y. Authorizing a Transfer of Appropriations within the 2012 Municipal Budget

Z. Authorizing Refund of Escrow to Ben Franklin Associates, SP-08/05

AA. Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation Due to Hurricane Sandy (resolution to be distributed at Council meeting)

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

A. Authorizing Awarding of Bid #12-13 – Universal Containers (36-60-95 Gallon)

9. Adoption of Ordinances (*with public participation)

A. Ordinance Providing For Sidewalk Improvements In And By The Township Of Lawrence In The County Of Mercer, New Jersey, Appropriating $37,644.65 Therefor And Directing The Special Assessment Of The Cost Thereof

10. Manager's Report

A. Report from Superintendent of Recreation Steven J. Groeger

11. Attorney's Report

12. Clerk's Report

13. Written Communications

A. Letter from Lawrence Historical Society Annual Financial Report

14. Old Business

15. New Business

16. Executive Session (if authorized)

17. Adjournment

Next Council Meetings:

  • Tuesday, December 4, 2012
  • Tuesday, December 18, 2012

 

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

Upcoming Meeting 11/8/2012

Introduction of Ordinances

There is one ordinance for introduction.

Ordinance 6-A amends the current salary ordinance for unclassified employees by adding the position of per diem Public Safety Telecommunications Operator.

Resolutions

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

Resolution 7-B authorizes the renewal of the on-line data processing contract with Vital Communications for tax assessor and tax collector applications. The renewal is for calendar year 2013 with an annual cost of $35,100.

Resolutions 7-C through 7-G authorize the acceptance of bids and sale of township owned land offered through bidding to contiguous property owners. The parcels and successful bid amounts are as follows; Lake Drive $1,509.00, Alcazar Avenue $2,250.00, Emden Avenue $2,750.00, Albermarle Road and Johnson Avenue $3,600.00 and Review Avenue $2,100.00.

Resolutions 7-H through 7-N are “Chapter 159” resolutions that amend the adopted 2012 municipal budget by authorizing anticipation of revenue and appropriating the same for the following purposes; Drunk Driving Enforcement $10,950.69, Radon Testing Kits $396.00, Safety Town Program $1,000.00, Communicable Disease Services – Hepatitis B Immunizations $273.24, Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation $3,021.93, Tanning Establishment Inspections $200.00 and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Year End Crackdown $2,850.00.

Resolution 7-R supports New Jersey Assembly Bill A-3393. The legislation is intended to prevent telecommunication carriers from being exempt from Business Personal Property Taxes when the carrier no longer supplies dial tone and access to at least 51% of local telephone exchanges. This legislation will define that the 51% would be as of April 1, 1997. The original law did not consider changes in technology.

Resolution 7-V authorizes an amendment to the professional services contract of David Roskos, Esquire of Sterns and Weinroth by increasing the contract in the amount of $20,000. The increase is apportioned as $10,000 for legal services on matters related to insurance claims and $10,000 for tax appeal matters. The new contract maximum is $215,900. Funding is available from the Self-Insurance Trust Fund and the Legal Services Other Expenses.

Resolution 7-W authorizes an amendment to the professional services contract of George T. Dougherty, Esquire of Katz and Dougherty by increasing the contract in the amount of $3,000. The purpose of the contract is for serving as Special Counsel to the Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Adjustment. The new contract maximum is $13,000 and funding is available from the appropriation for Zoning Board Other Expenses.

Resolution 7-Y authorizes the transfer of funds between appropriations in the 2012 adopted municipal budget.

Award of Bids

There is one bid award on the agenda.

Resolution 8-A authorizes an award of a bid to Schaefer Systems International, Incorporated of Charlotte, North Carolina for the purchase of municipal waste trash containers. Funding is available from the 2012 capital improvement ordinance.

Adoption of Ordinances

There is one ordinance for adoption.

Ordinance 9-A authorizes the placement of a special assessment against properties where owners participated in the 2012 concrete improvement program. The program affords to property owners, when said locations are immediately adjacent to roadway improvement projects, the chance to have sidewalks, curbs and driveway aprons replaced at the same cost as the public bid price received by the Township for like work. The cost of the improvements is paid by the owners over a period of five years. There were thirty-nine property locations with a total special assessment levy of $37,644.65.

Manager’s Report

Presentation by Steven Groeger, Superintendent of Recreation on the matter of the Recreation Department budget.

Discussion of 2013 municipal budget.

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

 

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