January 7, 2020 Re-Organization Meeting

TOWNSHIP OF STILLWATER TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

JANUARY 7, 2020 – RE-ORGANIZATION MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 6 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 3, 2019 and was placed on the Official Bulletin Board at the Municipal Building.

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

Ms. Knott invited Chaplin Cathy Palazzolo, IFOC Sr. Chaplin to provide an invocation.

Ms. Knott then invited Sussex County Clerk Jeffrey Parrott to read the Statement of Determination and announced that at the last general election, Mr. Timmy Lee Fisher and Mrs. Vera Rumsey were duly elected to the Township Committee for three-year terms. Mr. Parrott administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Fisher and Mrs. Rumsey congratulating them and wishing them well.

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

Election of Mayor:

Ms. Knott called for nominations for Mayor. Mrs. Rumsey nominated Ms. Chammings, seconded by Mr. Morrison. There were no other nominations so nominations were closed. Roll Call Vote for Ms. Chammings’ nomination as Mayor: Mrs. Rumsey, yes, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, yes, and Ms. Chammings, yes

Ms. Chammings accepted the position of Mayor of Stillwater Township for 2020.

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 2020.

Amendments to Agenda: Resolutions 2020-014 was removed from the Consent Agenda so it 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:

2020-001 Adopting Schedule of 2020 Meetings

2020-002 Designating the Official Newspapers

2020-003 Authorizing Awards of Non-Fair and Open Contracts for Professional Services

2020-004 Authorizing the Cancellation of Tax Overpayment or Delinquent Amounts

2020-005 Authorizing the Cancellation of Delinquent Amounts for any Charges/Fees

2020-006 Setting Property Tax due Dates, Delinquency Charges and Year-End Penalty

2020-007 Temporary Budget

2020-008 Establishing Mileage Reimbursement

2020-009 Adopting Cash Management Plan for 2020

2020-010 Authorizing the CFO to Invest Idle Funds

2020-011 Authorizing the CFO to sell Bond Anticipation Notes and Bonds

2020-012 Establishing 2020 Holiday Schedule

2020-015 Appointing Tax Assessor and Attorney to Represent Township before County Tax Board

2020-016 Authorizing the CFO or Tax Collector to impose service charge for checks returned

2020-017 Authorizing Signatures on Checks

2020-018 Striking the 2020 Tax Rate for Funding the Stillwater Open Space Trust Fund

2020-019 Appointing Risk Management Consultant

2020-020 Appointing Statewide Insurance Fund Commissioner

2020-021 Authorizing Purchases under New Jersey State Contract

Mr. Scott made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Mr. Fisher.

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

2020-014 Approving Appointments of Boards and Commissions with Committee Concurrence

Mr. Morrison asked to table this resolution in order to receive correspondence from the Board’s secretary regarding the attendance record of the board members who are looking to be re-appointed to their board. The Clerk will ask the board secretaries for the information and forward it to the Township Committee members.

Mr. Morrison made a motion to table Resolution 2020-014, seconded by Mr. Scott.

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

2020-013A Approving Mayor’s Appointments of Township Officer with Committee Concurrence

Mayor Chammings asked for a Motion for Resolution 2020-013A. Mr. Scott made a motion to adopt Resolution 2020-013A, seconded by Mr. Morrison. Mayor Chammings said she wished she could determine how many hours were spent for each of the titles held by the Zoning Officer. Mrs. Fisher responded it was hard to separate all her positions into specific hours and the Vacant/Abandoned houses she collects fees for must be backed up with a specific positon in order for the State and mortgage companies not to come after the Township to return the funds collected. Mayor Chammings noted because of the uncertainty she would like to table this resolution for further discussion at another time. Mrs. Fisher asked if she was to come to work for the rest of the week. Mayor Chammings asked if there was any more discussion on the resolution. Mrs. Rumsey said while she was campaigning there was only one comment she heard time and time again and it was about the Zoning Official. They said the Zoning Official did not complete her job in a timely manner, did not treat all applications fairly and has had an attitude toward residents. Mrs. Rumsey stated it is an embarrassment to the township having an employee so many people have had issue with. Hearing the same things over and over again are concerning and should be addressed.

Roll Call Vote: Mrs. Rumsey, no, Mr. Morrison, yes, Mr. Scott, yes, Mr. Fisher, abstain, Mayor Chammings, abstain

Mayor Chammings abstained because she still would like answers to the questions she has.

RESOLUTION 2020-024 In Support of New Jersey Legislation which concerns Vegetation Management (S2505/A2558 – “Vegetation Management Response Act”) Urging Legislators to Pass the bills for Vegetation Management Related to Electric Utility Infrastructure

Mr. Scott made a motion to adopt Resolution 2020-024, 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:

Arlene Fisher, Stillwater Zoning Officer, asked if she been re-appointed. Mayor Chammings said yes the resolution was adopted. Mrs. Fisher asked who the people are that made these statements since nothing has been officially been said to the Township Committee and said she is looking forward to getting involved with this.

Marcia Bradley, 913 Hillcrest Road, Stillwater, said it is a very good idea to have everything in print for every department.

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

Mayor Chammings said there will be a budget meeting which will begin at 7:00 p.m. so there are twenty minutes to eat, drink and be merry.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Lynda Knott, RMC