Council Meeting Minutes/September 10, 2013
The Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council was held in Council Chambers and called to order at 7:39 p.m. by Mayor Quattrocchi. She asked all present to participate in a moment of silence, followed by a salute to the flag.
Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the Westfield Leader, advertised on January 3, 2013, and prominently posted on the municipal public bulletin board and filed in the office of the municipal clerk informing the Public of the time and place according to the Provisions of the Open Public Meeting Law (Chapter 231, P.L. 1975).
Mayor Quattrocchi asks at this time please turn your cell phones to off or vibrate.
ROLL CALL:
Municipal Clerk Christina Ariemma administered Roll Call. The Members Present were:
Mayor Quattrocchi Councilman Nierstedt
Council President Todisco Councilwoman Palmer
Councilman Mathieu Councilman Petruzzelli
Also Present: Borough Administrator/Clerk Christina Ariemma and Borough Attorney Robert Renaud.
Councilman Blaufeder was absent.
MINUTES:
Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council held on August 27, 2013.
Workshop Session of the Mayor and Council held on August 27, 2013.
The foregoing minutes were approved as submitted by motion of Council President Todisco, seconded by Councilman Petruzzelli. 5-Ayes 1-Absent.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1) NEW JERSEY STATE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES –
a. Mayor’s Fax Advisory –
i. 08/27/13, RE: I. Property Tax History Pamphlet Revised and Updated II. & III. Two Upcoming League Seminars
ii. 08/28/13, RE: NJLM Daily Advisory - August 27, 2013
iii. 08/28/13, RE: I. A-248/S-2458, Defeated School Budget Deadline II. Updated version of the 98th Annual Conference League Joint Session Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
iv. 09/03/13, RE: Governor Signs Various Bills
v. 09/04/13, RE: Funding for Hepatitis B Shots Available October 4, 2013 Deadline
vi. 09/05/13, RE: Public Health Reminder – West Nile Virus Season
RECEIVED AND FILED
2) COMCAST –
a. 09/03/13, RE: Internet services to local schools and libraries free of charge
b. 09/03/13, RE: Price Change
RECEIVED AND FILED
3) GARWOOD MUNICIPAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR – 09/04/13, RE: COOP Plan for the Municipal Court.
RECEIVED AND FILED
4) COLUMBUS PARADE ASSOCIATION OF UNION COUNTY – 09/03/13, RE: Columbus Day Celebration invitation.
RECEIVED AND FILED
5) GARWOOD PLANNING BOARD – 08/29/13, RE: Minutes of the meeting held on June 26, 2013
RECEIVED AND FILED
ORDINANCES:
NONE
COMMITTEE REPORTS
POLICE: Councilman Petruzzelli, Chr. NO REPORT
PUBLIC HEALTH: Council President Todisco NO REPORT
STREETS AND ROADS/ECOLOGY: Councilman Nierstedt, Chr. NO REPORT
FIRE: Councilman Mathieu, Chr.
9 Incidents: 2 Alarm Activations, 5 CO Alarms, Assist PD, 1 Suspicious Package, 0 Mutual Aid: Total Man Hours – 62 hours, No meeting in August. Drill-Inventory, Inspection and Cataloging of all personal protective gear and equipment, including battery replacement of passive alarms. Theory and hands on operation of emergency saws. 18 men totaling 45 hours. Extra Duty standby for Kenilworth FD 6 men 30 total hours. August Pump Drills & Driver Training 10 men and 28 total hours
Report received and spread across the minutes by motion of Councilman Petruzzelli, seconded by Councilman Nierstedt.
FINANCE: Council President Todisco, Chr.
I sent the Mayor and Council a memo in their packet last week explaining the Finance Committee’s recommendation for upgrading the borough website and I’d like to go over that now for the public’s knowledge. After much research and discussion, the Finance Committee unanimously recommends the Borough sign an agreement with GovOffice (parent company Avenet LLC) to implement a complete redesign and upgrade of the Borough website along with first annual maintenance cost. This appears tonight as a resolution on the consent agenda. As outlined during the budget meetings, the Committee planned to make this upgrade during 2013 and appropriated funds accordingly.
The Mayor assigned this task to the Finance Committee earlier in the year and we have worked with the Borough Administrator/Clerk to bring a recommendation to Council. We explored many options from getting a program that would require a Borough employee or employees to complete the overhaul themselves to getting a service contract for design as well as support team to update our site. The recommendation of GovOffice falls in between, providing a redesign along with training for the beginning stages and support team for the rest of the time. In other words, our staff will be trained in how to use the new program and will be in charge of making updates to the site as it is currently doing. GovOffice will provide the Borough with a mobile version of the site, which is much easier to access and navigate on Smartphones. Many people have Smartphones already and this will make communication easier as we progress into the future.
The cost of this upgrade and redesign along with first annual maintenance cost will cost the Borough $3000, which is budgeted for in the website line-item. Going forward, the annual maintenance cost will be $600. This is significantly less than other options that would have the outside company handle updates, yet still significantly improves the Borough website and with it communication with our residents with its user-friendly appeal and mobile site. Also important to mention, it is easier to update than our current outdated software and will enable others in the office to be able to update it. Our Borough Administrator/Clerk will be the point person on the website, however others in the office will be trained so that it does not all fall on one person.
I urge my fellow councilmembers to vote in favor of this resolution in order to better our communication with the residents.
Report received and spread across the minutes by motion of Councilwoman Palmer, seconded by Councilman Nierstedt.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: Councilman Blaufeder, Chr. ABSENT
LAWS AND LICENSES: Councilwoman Palmer, Chr. NO REPORT
RECREATION: Councilman Petruzzelli, Chr. NO REPORT
COMMITTEE ON AGING: Councilwoman Palmer NO REPORT
LIBRARY, MAYOR’S REPRESENTATIVE: Councilman Mathieu
September is National Sign Up Month at your local library. Get carded today. A Library Card is free to any resident, providing not just books, but magazines, audio-books, current and classic DVDs, and now e-books for your mobile devices or PC. The Garwood Library is located at the corner of Walnut Street and Third Avenue, behind the Lincoln School Complex. The Library is open from 9:00 AM until 8:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, and closes at 4:30 PM on Fridays. The Library has resumed its Saturday hours of 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. On Tuesday, September 17th at 7:00 PM, tenor Salvatore Chiarelli will make a return appearance to the Library, singing many Broadway favorites, as well as Italian love songs and ballads. Always a well-attended program, be sure to reserve your seat early. You can register on line at the Library’s interactive calendar on their website, or you can register in person at the Library or by phone. The latest addition to the Library is its presence on Facebook. Newly updated and maintained by one of the Library Assistants, the Library’s Facebook page presents all the news about happenings in the Library and posts some pictures from Garwood’s history. There’s always something new and interesting going on the Garwood Library. Friday morning movies have resumed, every Friday at 10:00 AM, and the Toddler Story Time, for children up to age 4, resumes on Wednesday, September 11th, at 10:30. AM. More information on these and other library events can be found at the library’s website at youseemore.com/garwood.
Report received and spread across the minutes by motion of Councilman Petruzzelli, seconded by Councilman Nierstedt.
SCHOOL BOARD LIAISON: Councilwoman Palmer NO REPORT
CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC EVENTS AND HOLIDAYS LIAISON:
Council President Todisco NO REPORT
UNION COUNTY AIR TRAFFIC NOISE ADVISORY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE:
Councilman Mathieu NO REPORT
ATHLETIC FIELD COMPLEX PROJECT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE:
Councilman Petruzzelli
The monthly construction meeting was held Sept 3rd at borough hall. In attendance were the professionals for the project, Borough Administrator and Mayor Quattrocchi. Discussion took place on the remaining encroaching properties, phone and camera locations. The water and electric to the building was also discussed. The PSE&G electrical engineer will be at our next monthly meeting to discuss the electric service to the site. Our next meeting will be Sept. 18 in borough hall at 10:30am
COMMENT: Councilwoman Palmer asked if the soil tests are in. Councilman Petruzzelli said yes and they are consistent to our previous test. Councilman Mathieu asked if the contractor is going to move the soil. Mr. Renaud suggested that this not be discussed in public because of the threatened litigation. Mr. Renaud suggested it be discussed in Executive session. Brief discussion followed. Mr. Renaud said there is nothing to report. All suggested we have Executive Session at the end of the meeting.
Report received and spread across the minutes by motion of Council President Todisco, seconded by Councilwoman Palmer.
OFFICER’S REPORTS:
Len DiStefano Zoning Code Enforcement Officer monthly report for August 2013.
Municipal Tax Collector Aggie Kurzweil: monthly report for August 2013.
The foregoing reports were adopted as submitted by motion of Council President Todisco, seconded by Councilwoman Palmer. 5-Ayes 1-Absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bruce Paterson, 325 Willow Avenue received 8,700 tax bill today.
Mrs. Dombrowski, 301 Center Street said she got her tax bill and it is 11,000.
Mr. Alimonti, 321 Hemlock Ave commented that the County does whatever it wants and they have no 2% limit like school and local. He suggested people vote them out.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
CONSENT AGENDA
(Adoption upon Roll Call)
“Consent agenda items are considered to be routine and will be enacted with a single motion; any items requiring expenditure are supported by a Certification of Availability of funds; any item requiring discussion will be removed from the Consent Agenda; all Consent Agenda items will be reflected in the full minutes.”
RESOLUTION NO. 13-306
Resolution: Approval to submit a grant application and execute a grant contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the 2014 DOT Various Road Improvement Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the Borough of Garwood, formally approves the grant application for the above stated project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to submit an electronic grant application identified as MA-2014-Garwood Borough-00245 to the New Jersey Department of Transportation on behalf of the Borough of Garwood.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Municipal Clerk are hereby authorized to sign the grant agreement on behalf of the Borough of Garwood and that their signature constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions of the grant agreement and approves the execution of the grant agreement.
RESOLUTION NO. 13-307
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Garwood, County of Union, State of New Jersey that Douglas Stoffer be and is hereby appointed Captain of the Garwood Police Department in the Borough of Garwood, effective September 10, 2013, at an annual salary of $100,507.00, in accordance with the current PBA contract
RESOLUTION NO. 13-308
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Garwood County of Union, State of New Jersey, hereby authorize the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to sign the Indemnification Agreement with the County of Union for use of the Conservation Center for leaf disposal.
RESOLUTION NO. 13-309
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Garwood, County of Union, State of New Jersey hereby authorize Borough Administrator/Clerk Christina M Ariemma to prepare specifications and to advertise for THE FURNISHING AND INSTALLATION ON THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL DUMP TRUCK ONE (1) STAINLESS STEEL V-BOX SPREADER SYSTEM WITH CONTROLS AND ONE (1) MANUAL TILT HITCH AND TRIP EDGE POWER REVERSIBLE STEEL SNOWPLOW PLUS WITH CONTROLS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IN THE BOROUGH OF GARWOOD.
RESOLUTION NO. 13-310
WHEREAS, the Borough Administrator/Clerk solicited quotes from vendors for Web Design upgrades and annual maintenance for the Borough of Garwood Municipal Web Site. Quotes were received as follows:
Vendor / Description / Design / Annual Maintenance / TOTALAvenet Web Solutions, LLC / Design and Maintenance / $2,400 / $600 / $3,000
Xspectrum! / Design only / $4,400 / - / $4,400
City Connections / Design and Maintenance / $2,000 / $3,800 / $5,800
SP Marketing & Design / Design and Maintenance / $2,500 / $12,000 / $14,450
BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Garwood, County of Union, State of New Jersey, hereby awards the following in accordance with quotes attached hereto:
VENDOR: Avenet Web Solutions, LLC
1300 Godward Street NE, Suite 2625
Minneapolis, MN 55413
PRICE & DESCRIPTION includes design, training, tech support, mobile site, maintenance for a cost not to exceed $3,000
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the award of this quote be subject to the Borough Treasurer executing the appropriate Certification of Funds.
A motion to adopt Consent Agenda was made by Council President Todisco, seconded by Councilman Mathieu, whereupon Mayor Quattrocchi directed Roll Call, Council President Todisco-Aye, Councilman Blaufeder-Absent, Councilman Mathieu-Aye, Councilman Nierstedt-Aye, Councilwoman Palmer-Aye, Councilman Petruzzelli-Aye. 5-Ayes 1-Absent. Consent Agenda Adopted.
RESOLUTIONS DELETED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA:
NONE
NEW BUSINESS:
Any new business the Mayor and Council may have:
PROCLAMATION:
POW/MIA Remembrance Day/September 20, 2013
Acknowledging Ms. Orlando “Londi” Gallo on her 100th Birthday
APPOINTMENT:
Carolyn Dunning to Celebrations Committee – Term 09/10/13-12/31/13
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
A motion by Council President Todisco to introduce the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the following claims as approved be and the same are hereby ordered paid when properly signed and verified; and the payment of payrolls as listed is hereby confirmed and ratified.