December 1, 2020 Regular Minutes

STILLWATER TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

December 1, 2020 – Regular Meeting

A REGULAR MEETING of the Stillwater Township Committee was called to order by Mayor Chammings at 7:05 p.m. noting the meeting date, time and place were duly published in the New Jersey Herald and posted at the Town Hall and advised those present that this meeting was being held in compliance with provisions of P.L. 1975, Chapter 231, Sections 4 & 13. Mayor Chammings added the meeting was being held virtually on Zoom and this meeting was also advertised with the link in the New Jersey Herald, the Stillwater Township website (www.stillwatertownshipnj.com) on the Stillwater Township Face Book page. PRESENT: Committeewoman Rumsey, Committeeman Morrison, Deputy Mayor Scott, Committeeman Fisher and Mayor Chammings, Municipal Clerk Lynda Knott, Attorney Angelo Bolcato ABSENT: NONE

EXECUTIVE SESSION: 6:30 p.m.

After the reading of the following Resolution to enter into Executive Session, a motion was made by Mr. Fisher, seconded by Mr. Morrison and carried by roll call vote to adopt the resolution permitting the Committee to go into Executive Session at 06:32 p.m.

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975 permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting under certain circumstances; and

WHEREAS, this public body is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater, in the County of Sussex and State of New Jersey as follows:

1. The public shall be excluded from that portion of this meeting.

2. The general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is as follows: Personnel, Contract and Attorney Client

3. As nearly as can now be ascertained, the matter or matters to be discussed at this time will be disclosed to the public when such matters are resolved.

There being no further business to attend to, a motion was made by Mr. Scott, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey to conclude the Executive Session at 7:05 p.m., unanimously carried by roll call vote.

Roll Call was taken and the flag was saluted.

MINUTES:

Executive Meeting Minutes from October 20, 2020 were tabled until the December 15, 2020 meeting.

November 17, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes and Executive Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Mrs. Rumsey to adopt the Minutes, seconded by Mr. Fisher. Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstained Mayor Chammings, yes.

BILLS LIST

#19: $ 133,461.42

RESOLUTION 2020-149 Authorizing Payment of Bills

WHEREAS, the Chief Finance Officer has certified that funds are available in the proper

account; and

WHEREAS, the Chief Finance Officer has approved payment upon certification from

the Township Department Heads that the goods and/or services have been rendered to the

Township;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Committee of the Township of Stillwater that the current bill lists, dated December 1, 2020 and on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief Finance Officer and approved by the Chief Finance Officer for payment, be paid.

A motion was made by Mr. Morrison to adopt Resolution 2020-149, seconded by Mr. Fisher. Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes Mayor Chammings, yes.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Mr. Scott said the Old Foundry and Stillwater Road are lined where newly paved.

Mr. Fisher said he was waiting to get the proposals from surveyors for the potential egress area at lower Crandon Lakes. The Clerk asked for more clarification of the area to be surveyed to send to the surveyors for the proposals.

Mrs. Rumsey reported the community center looks beautiful with all the holiday decorations and thanked Tara Tosti and Alicia Gardner for all their efforts.

Mrs. Rumsey reported the first bathroom at the community center is ready for use and will be a unisex/handicapped bathroom. Mr. Rumsey noted Paul Hawkins did an outstanding job with the remodel.

Mrs. Rumsey also thanked the fire department for their service to the community by cooking and delivering 55 Thanksgiving dinners to Stillwater families.

Mrs. Rumsey invited Chief Steven Sugar to give his report for fire and EMS. Chief Sugar reported the fire department answered 162 calls year-to-date and the EMS 297 calls year-to-date.

Mayor Chammings reported there is an uptick in positive tests for COVID in Sussex County and gave the following details noting the new numbers in the Kittatinny sending district:

Mayor Chammings also discussed the Governor’s new executive orders reducing the number of people meeting indoors to 10 and outdoor gatherings to 25 as of Monday, December 7, 2020. The Governor also put all indoor youth sports on a pause from December 5, 2020 to January 2, 2021 in hope of slowing the pandemic.

Mayor Chammings attended a Mitigation Plan Coordinator meeting on November 24, 2020 where she turned in a rough draft of the new MOU for the 2021 Stillwater section of the SC Mitigation Plan. Mayor Chammings said Jackie Espinoza of JCP&L was in attendance and gave an update on JCP&L’s mitigation plans.

Mayor Chammings also reported Jackie Espinoza delivered a $200 donation earmarked for the Recreation Commission’s Activity club. The Township Clerk will send a thank you note to Mrs. Espinoza and JCP&L for their support of the community.

Mayor Chammings noted the new OWL camera has been delivered and she will get it up and working for meetings to be able to see who is speaking during Zoom live stream of the township’s meetings.

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA: Under new business reimbursement for classes for DPW supervisor

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION:

Marcia Bradley, CERT Coordinator, reported she met with the Hampton Township Committee and they seemed open to forming a CERT tripod. Mrs. Bradley said the Hampton Fire Department has also discussed the CERT tripod at their meeting. Mrs. Rumsey added the Hampton Fire Department was very receptive to have more conversations about CERT. Mayor Chammings thanked Mrs. Bradley for all her hard work.

Seeing no one else from the public who wished to speak so this portion of the meeting was closed.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

Budget Dates: The CFO sent an e-mail to the Township Committee stating most of the budget discussion could be held during regular meetings. The first budget discussion regarding departments and boards and commissions will be held from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm before the next regular meeting on December 15, 2020. The CFO suggested the DPW discussion be held on a Saturday to have the time needed for the large budget. The Township Committee decided to hold the DPW budget discussion on Saturday, January 9, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. The meetings will be held in person at town hall and also live streaming via Zoom.

Community Center events – holiday tree lighting, talent show, vendor fair and holiday shop: Due to the Governor’s executive order reducing indoor and outdoor gatherings the following previously scheduled events at the community center will be cancelled/postponed: the Stillwater PTA talent show (will be held virtually), the Stillwater PTA Vendor Fair and Holiday Shop. The Stillwater holiday tree lighting event will be moved to Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. This move is necessary to allow more than 25 people to attend and also allows for socially distanced picture taking in the festively decorated community center. The Governor’s order goes into effect on Monday, December 7, 2020.

Monthly Staff Meetings with Township Committee members: Mr. Morrison discussed the Township Committee’s desire to hold regularly scheduled staff meetings with town hall employees. The meetings will take place between the first and second township committee monthly meetings so concerns/desires etc. could be brought to the meeting for discussion with the governing body if needed. The meetings will be staggered in time and date to allow all employees the opportunity to be addressed. The first meeting will be held on January 14, 2021 at 12:30 p.m.

DPW Supervisor Class Reimbursement: The DPW Supervisor gave the clerk an accounting of all his class registrations in order for him to obtain the Certified Public Works Manager certification. Mr. Raff had to register for all his classes now because they are only held virtually and the seating capacity is limited. The Township Committee discussed the request. A motion was made by Mr. Scott to reimburse the DPW Supervisor for his class registrations, seconded by Mr. Morrison Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstained Mayor Chammings, yes. The Clerk will prepare a memorandum of the motion to the CFO.

RESOLUTIONS:

The following resolutions were discussed and voted on together:

Resolution 2020-150 Mayor’s Appointment of Tim Henshall as a Member of the Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Department with Committee Concurrence

Resolution 2020-151 Mayor’s Appointment of Tamarah Bodensieck as a Member of the Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Department with Committee Concurrence

Resolution 2020-152 Mayor’s Appointment of Dennis Fox as a Member of the Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Department with Committee Concurrence

A motion was made by Mr. Morrison to adopt Resolutions 2020-150, 2020-151 and 2020-152, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey. Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstained Mayor Chammings, yes.

Resolution 2020-153 Mayor’s Acceptance of the Resignation of Robert W. Huber as Plumbing Inspector with Committee Concurrence

The Township Committee thanked Mr. Huber for his service to the Stillwater community and asked the Clerk to send Mr. Huber a thank you note.

A motion was made by Mr. Scott to adopt Resolution 2020-153, seconded by Mr. Morrison. Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstained Mayor Chammings, yes.

Resolution 2020-154 Approving the Sale of Three (3) Lots at the Township of Stillwater’s Property Sale on November 17, 2020

WHEREAS, the Township of Stillwater conducted a sale of undersized lots owned by the Township of Stillwater and no longer needed for public use on November 17, 2020, pursuant to Ordinance 2020-08. The purpose of the sale was to sell the undersized lots to contiguous property owners in order that the lot being sold by the Township would merge with the property owner’s existing property; and

WHEREAS, the Township of Stillwater also conducted a public auction sale of lots owned by the Township of Stillwater and no longer needed for public use on November 17, 2020, pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-131.

WHEREAS, the Township received bids for three (3) properties as follows:

Block 1801, Lot 28.01, bid by Dawn Tighe – $500

Block 416, Lot 27, bid by Blake Morris – $250

Block 602, Lot 2, bid by Linda & Michael Batwinas – $250

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Stillwater Township Committee that the following property sales are hereby approved:

Block 1801, Lot 28.01, bid by Dawn Tighe – $500

Block 416, Lot 27, bid by Blake Morris – $250

Block 602, Lot 2, bid by Linda & Michael Batwinas – $250

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED upon each bidder’s payment of the balance of the purchase price along with the fees and costs provided for in Resolution 2020-131 and Ordinance 2020-08, as applicable, and their compliance with all requirements of Resolution 2020-131 and Ordinance 2020-08, as applicable, the Mayor or Deputy Mayor, as appropriate, and the Township Clerk are authorized to sign the Quit Claim Deeds and such other documents, if any, for the three (3) properties being sold.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all terms and conditions contained in Resolution 2020-131 and Ordinance 2020-08, authorizing the sale are hereby incorporated into this resolution by reference.

This resolution shall take effect immediately.

A motion was made by Mr. Scott to adopt Resolution 2020-154, seconded by Mr. Fisher. Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstained Mayor Chammings, yes.

Resolution 2020-155 Authorizing the Cancellation of 2020 Budget Appropriations

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has reduced the amount of State Aid originally allotted to Stillwater Township for the Budget Year 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Finance Officer certifies there appear to be a surplus in the budgetary accounts listed below, over and above the demand deemed necessary for the balance of the year; and

WHEREAS, the Finance Officer certifies that it is necessary to formally cancel the following budget appropriations amounts so these unexpended amounts may be used to offset the reduction in revenue;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, that the following surplus balances of budget appropriations be canceled:

A motion was made by Mrs. Rumsey to adopt Resolution 2020-155, seconded by Mr. Fisher. Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstained Mayor Chammings, yes.

OPEN PUBLIC SESSION

Mrs. Kathy Draghi, 1016 County Road 619, said it was awesome the employee’s classes will be reimbursed but asked if there was a commitment from the employee. Mr. Morrison answered there is a five-year commitment from all employees reimbursed and it is part of the employee handbook.

Mrs. Draghi, also asked who inspects an oil tank removal. Mr. Fisher answered the fire inspector.

Mrs. Tara Tosti, Recreation Commission Member, asked if the lights were on the tree for the lighting. Mrs. Rumsey said they were not and the tree is leaning. Mayor Chammings said the light will be on the tree shortly.

Seeing no one else from the public wishing to speak this portion of the meeting was closed.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT: Mr. Bolcato said he had no report.

There being no further business, Mr. Morrison made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey at 8:18 p.m. In a voice vote, all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynda Knott, Township Clerk