January 5 2021 Re-Organization Meeting

TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

JANUARY 5, 2021 – RE-ORGANIZATION MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Municipal Clerk Lynda Knott. Ms. Knott stated that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided according to the Open Public Meetings Act, Assembly Bill 1030. Notice was sent to the New Jersey Herald on January 8, 2020 and was placed on the Official Bulletin Board at the Municipal Building, on the official website and on the official Facebook page.

Ms. Knott led the public in the salute to the American Flag.

Ms. Knott then read the Statement of Determination and announced that at the last general election, Ms. Lisa Chammings was duly elected to the Township Committee for an additional three-year term. Ms. Knott congratulated Ms. Chammings and presented her with a flowering plant.

Ms. Knott read a letter from the Sussex County Development Partnership naming Ms. Chammings Mayor of the Year for 2020 and presented Ms. Chammings with a plaque.

Roll Call indicated the following members present: Mrs. Rumsey, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Scott, Mr. Fisher, Ms. Chammings.

Election of Mayor:

Ms. Knott called for nominations for Mayor. Mr. Fisher nominated Mr. Scott, seconded by Mr. Scott. Ms. Knott called for additional nominations. There were no other nominations so nominations were closed. Ms. Chammings asked Mr. Morrison if he could hear (Mr. Morrison attended via Zoom). Mr. Morrison said he could hear. Ms. Chammings said there is a nomination of George Scott for Mayor and a second. No other responses. Ms. Knott called the Roll Call Vote for Mr. Scott’s nomination as Mayor: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, no, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, and Mr. Morrison stopped the vote by stating he had something to say. Mr. Morrison said he had made a promise to George Scott to vote for him for mayor this year but the pandemic hit. Mr. Morrison noted Ms. Chammings has been involved with all aspects of the pandemic and he felt she should continue in that capacity for 2021. Mr. Morrison nominated Ms. Chammings for Mayor and Mrs. Rumsey seconded his motion. Mr. Bolcato said there is a nomination for Mr. Scott with a second and Mr. Morrison who could not hear nominated Ms. Chammings. Mr. Bolcato asked if there is a second for Ms. Chammings’ nomination. Mrs. Rumsey seconded Mr. Morrison’s nomination. Roll Call Vote for Mr. Scott’ nomination as Mayor: Mrs. Rumsey, no, Mr. Morrison, no, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, and Ms. Chammings no. Roll Call Vote for Ms. Chammings’ nomination as Mayor: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, no, Mr. Fisher, no, Ms. Chammings, yes. The Clerk congratulated Ms. Chammings on being selected as Mayor for 2021.

Ms. Chammings accepted the position of Mayor of Stillwater Township for 2021. Ms. Chammings noted she and Mr. Scott worked well together as Mayor and Deputy Mayor and hoped they would continue to work well together.

The meeting was turned over to Mayor Chammings.

Election of Deputy Mayor:

A motion was made by Mr. Fisher to nominate Mr. Scott as Deputy Mayor, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey. There were no other nominations so nominations were closed. Roll Call Vote for Mr. Scott: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes and Ms. Chammings, yes

Mr. Scott accepted the position of Deputy Mayor for Stillwater Township for 2021.

Amendments to Agenda: Resolutions 2021-003, 2021-012 and 2021-013 were removed from the Consent Agenda so they may be voted on separately.

CONSENT AGENDA:

ALL MATTERS LISTED BELOW ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE IN NATURE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THE ITEMS. IF ANY DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT PARTICULAR ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE CONSIDERED SEPERATELY ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.

RESOLUTIONS:

2021-001 Adopting Schedule of 2021 Meetings

2021-002 Designating the Official Newspapers

2021-003 Authorizing Awards of Non-Fair and Open Contracts for Professional Services

2021-004 Authorizing the Cancellation of Tax Overpayment or Delinquent Amounts

2021-005 Authorizing the Cancellation of Delinquent Amounts for any Charges/Fees

2021-006 Setting Property Tax Due Dates, Delinquency Charges and Year-End Penalty

2021-007 Temporary Budget

2021-008 Establishing Mileage Reimbursement

2021-009 Adopting Cash Management Plan for 2020

2021-010 Authorizing the CFO to Invest Idle Funds

2021-011 Authorizing the CFO to sell Bond Anticipation Notes and Bonds

2021-012 Establishing 2021 Holiday Schedule

2021-013 Approving Mayor’s Appointments of Township Officers with Committee Concurrence

2021-014 Approving Appointments of Boards and Commissions with Committee Concurrence

2021-015 Appointing Tax Assessor and Attorney to Represent Township before County Tax Board

2021-016 Authorizing the CFO or Tax Collector to impose service charge for checks returned

2021-017 Authorizing Signatures on Checks

2021-018 Striking the 2021 Tax Rate for Funding the Stillwater Open Space Trust Fund

2021-019 Authorizing Purchases under New Jersey State Contract

2021-020 Authorizing Compliance with the US EEOC

2021-021 Regarding Municipal Clerk’s Hours

Mayor Chammings asked the township committee members if they wanted to pull anything from the consent agenda prior to the vote. Mr. Fisher asked to pull resolution 2021-003. Mayor Chammings pulled resolution 2021-012. Mr. Morrison pulled resolution 2021-013.

Mr. Scott made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda minus the three pulled resolutions (2021-003, 2021-012 and 2021-013), seconded by Mrs. Rumsey.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, Mayor Chammings, yes

Resolution 2021-003 ‘Authorizing Awards of Non-Fair and Open Contracts for Professional Services”: Mr. Fisher asked why Laddey, Clark & Ryan, LLP has an hourly contract with Stillwater Township when other municipalities like Stanhope and Green have retainer contracts. Mr. Bolcato said those other municipalities have that type of contract but they are also be charged for additional services rendered.

Mr. Scott made a motion to approve the resolution 2021-003 seconded by Mrs. Rumsey.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, Mayor Chammings, yes

Resolution 2021-012 “Establishing 2021 Holiday Schedule”: Mayor Chammings noted the day scheduled for January 1, 2022 is a Saturday and thought the employees may want that changed to December 31, 2021 so they would have the holiday off observed instead of a Saturday when they were already off. The Clerk will amend resolution 2021-012 to reflect the December 31, 2021 date as the date the holiday will be observed.

Mr. Fisher made a motion to approve the resolution 2021-012, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, Mayor Chammings, yes

Resolution 2020-013 “Approving Mayor’s Appointments of Township Officers with Committee Concurrence”. Mr. Morrison asked to table this resolution because he has a lot of questions which cannot be answered by the township committee and he would like time in order to have his questions answered. Mr. Morrison hopes no one will read anything into this request. Mayor Chammings asked if he thought the next meeting would be enough time for him to get answers and Mr. Morrison said it was. The Resolution is amended to read Mayor’s temporary appointment of township officers with committee concurrence.

Mr. Morrison made a motion to adopt resolution 2021-013 as amended, seconded by Mrs. Scott.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, Mayor Chammings, yes

Amendments to Agenda: Resolution 2021-022.

Mayor Chammings asked if anyone else had amendments to the agenda. Mr. Scott asked if recycling center stickers for residents could be put on the next agenda on January 19, 2021.

Mr. Scott said the DPW did a great job during the last snow storm but there was an issue with the school. Mr. Scott said he would like if Mrs. Rumsey (if she is still liaison to the school board) and he sat down with the board of education to discuss snow plowing. Mrs. Rumsey added there was an issue with a light pole.

Mayor Chammings asked if any of the township committee members had any comments:

Mr. Fisher said he feels Mayor Chammings did a good job as mayor but it was time for a change It should have been Mr. Scott’s turn and usually Township Committees rotate the mayor position.

Mr. Scott had no additional comments.

Mr. Morrison repeated he would like to publicly apologize to Mr. Scott again but feels it was the best decision to have Ms. Chammings continue as mayor in 2021.

Mayor Chammings thanked everyone for their service in 2020 – a real positive for the township was getting the Community Center up and running and Mayor Chammings thanked the Recreation Commission for all their activities using the facilities (i.e. summer camp and the tree lighting). Mayor Chammings thanked those who used their kitchens as offices. Mayor Chammings thanked Mr. Bolcato, the Planning and Zoning Board and all the township’s professionals. Mayor Chammings gave kudos to the residents and staff at the town hall, DPW and Recycling and Convenience Center.

Mrs. Rumsey added despite the tremendous loss of revenue from banquet rentals and other funding the fire department still gave back to our residents by cooking and delivering Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and working with the DPW during storms.

Resolution 2021-022 Authorizing the Promotion of Gerry Leatham Jr. from Laborer to Equipment Operator

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Township Committee of the Township of Stillwater authorize the promotion of Gerry Leatham, Jr. from Laborer 2 to Equipment Operator with an hourly rate of $24.31 as per the 2019-2021 DPW Bargaining Agreement. Mr. Leatham’s promotion is effective January 1, 2021.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this appointment was made at a meeting of the Township Committee on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

Mr. Scott made a motion to adopt resolution 2021-022, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, Mayor Chammings, yes

Open Public Session:

Mr. Paul Barta thanked the township committee for the service.

Mr. Scott Douglas also thanked the township committee for a great job. Mr. Douglas also wanted to echo Mr. Scott’s statement the DPW does a great job and even though they only work on a few of the Paulinskill Lake Community he appreciates all they do for the entire community.

Kathy Draghi wished everyone a happy new year and said hopefully this will be a better year.

Chief Sugar said on behalf of the fire department they congratulate Lisa Chammings for being re-elected and named Mayor for 2021.

Seeing no one else who wanted to speak the open public session was closed.

There being no further business, Mr. Scott made a motion to adjourn the Reorganization Meeting, seconded by Mrs. Rumsey. In a voice vote, all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Lynda Knott, RMC