Township Council to Continue Budget Talks, Consider Purchase of New Street Sweeper

The next meeting of Lawrence Township Council will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, 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 continue, and council will vote whether to adopt two ordinances concerning the sale of township-owned land and approve the awarding of a bid for the purchase of a new street sweeper for $266,760.

Funding for the purchase of the street sweeper would come from the 2012 capital improvement program and Clean Community grant funds, according to the township manager's memo.

Eight resolutions are also scheduled for adoption, including one authorizing a professional services contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff for consulting services for the “Johnson Trolley Line Missing Link Feasibility Study.”

That study, funded by a Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission grant, will examine options (such as a bridge or tunnel) for reconnecting the sections of the Johnson Trolley Line pedestrian and bicycle path divided by Interstate 95.

The pedestrian and bicycle path – which follows the old right-of-way used by the Trenton-Princeton Traction Co. trolley line that provided passenger service between Trenton and Princeton until 1940 – is split in half by Interstate 95, with one side coming to an end at the highway’s edge behind Rider University and the other side being interrupted by the highway near the intersection of Denow Road and Melvina Drive.

A bridge or underground passageway reuniting the two sides would allow pedestrians and bikers from the southern half of Lawrence Township to access the Lawrence Hopewell Trail in the northern half of the township, while giving those trail users from North Lawrence a way to enjoy the southern half of the Johnson Trolley Line as it heads into Ewing Township.

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, March 5, 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, March 5, 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

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 – July 17, 2012

B. Closed Session – January 22, 2013

C. Closed Session – February 5, 2013

D. Closed Session – February 19, 2013

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

A. Authorizing Awarding Bid #13-01 Six Wheel Broom Street Sweeper with Belt Conveyor

9. Introduction of Ordinances

10. Adoption of Ordinances (with public participation)

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, Glenn & Johnson Avenues

11. Manager's Report

A. Discussion of the 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 Recreation Fee Refunds

B. Authorizing Construction Fee Refund

C. Authorizing Special Police Duty Fee Refund

D. Authorizing Appointment to the Municipal Drug & Alcohol Alliance

E. Authorizing Refund of Tax Overpayment

F. Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement to Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Johnson Trolley Line Missing Link Feasibility Study

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

H. Authorizing Amending the 2013 Temporary Budget

18. Council Initiatives & Liaison Reports

19. Written Communications

A. Communication from David Matthews Resigning from the Environmental Resources and Sustainability Green Advisory Committee

20. Executive Session (if authorized)

21. Adjournment

Next Council Meetings

• Tuesday, March 19, 2013

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

Upcoming Meeting 3/5/2013

Awarding or Rejection of Bids

There is one bid award for consideration.

Resolution 8-A authorizes a bid award to Timmerman Equipment Company for the purchase of a six wheel broom street sweeper. The amount of the purchase is $266,760. Funding is available from the 2012 capital improvement program and Clean Community Grant Funds.

Introduction of Ordinances

There are no ordinances for introduction.

Adoption of Ordinances

There are two ordinances for adoption.

Ordinance 10-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 10-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.

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-F authorizes a professional services contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff for consulting services for the Johnson Trolley Line Missing Link Feasibility Study. The firm will examine the options for reconnecting the Johnson Trolley line at Interstate 95. Four firms requested proposal documents and one response received. The amount of the contract is $39,999.92. Funding is available from a Transportation & Community Development Initiative (TCDI) Grant sponsored by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

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

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