JUNE 6, 2007
PAULSBORO. N.J.
7:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
Council Chamber:
Mayor Burzichelli presided at the regular meeting of Council
held on the above date and place.
Borough Clerk VanScoy read the opening statement regarding the
Open Public Meetings Act.
Mayor Burzichelli recited “Harry Truman’s Prayer” as the
opening prayer.
Mayor Burzichelli asked all those present to join in the
salute to the flag.
Mayor Burzichelli called the meeting to order.
Members present were: Giovannitti, Hamilton, Kidd, Morina, Tedeski. Absent:
Haynes (excused).
Mayor Burzichelli opened the floor to the public.
Barry Corradetti, 1820 Overbrook Avenue, Neighborhood Watch
Committee, discussed a code violation matter regarding dog feces. A resident had complained of her neighbors
having accumulated dog feces in their yard.
She came in to complain to Mr. Hogle and he directed her to the County
Health Department. The complaint was
given on May 14th. Mr. Hogle
tried to help her and eventually found a code to regulating this matter. That date was June 4th. He wanted to know why it took so long.
Mayor Burzichelli stated it took some research and he
apologized for the delay but he was not sure why it took so long.
Mr. Corradetti stated that too many things are slipping
through the Code Department. He further
stated the residents are not coming to the Code Office as they are not getting
any satisfaction. He hopes the Borough
learned their lesson.
Mayor Burzichelli stated that last year the Code Office wrote
600 tickets and it will continue to keep working.
Joyceline Gaines, 231 West Washington Street, stated she has
lived in Paulsboro for 61 years and she no longer has pride in Paulsboro. She picks up trash at 6:00 p.m. from 219 to
235 West Washington Street, people are hanging their wash on their front
porches, bicyclists are riding in the opposite direction and cars are
speeding. 235 West Washington Street
the grass is high and 227 West Washington Street should have been removed but
she understands that there are liens on the property. There are holes in the roof and the animals are living in
there. It is an environmental issue. She wanted to go on record that she cannot
sell or rent her house because of this block.
There are sneakers are wires at 242 West Washington Street. She would like them removed. She is extremely frustrated and she invited
each Council member to stay at her house from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to see
what she is living with.
Mayor Burzichelli
stated the Borough will get the sneakers off the wires, will get the laundry
off the porch. The house as 227 West
Washington Street has been a struggle but it will be demolished sometime and
the grass will be cut.
Karen Armistead, 108 West Washington Street, stated she is
having a problem with getting a garage put up at her father’s property. She had the garage taken down and went
through the Zoning Office to have it put back up. She didn’t have any problems with the Zoning Office. When she went to the Construction Office,
she hit a brick wall. The Construction
Official said she needed a flood elevation certificate as it was a FEMA issue. She called several surveyors and they
questioned as to why the Construction Official was requiring the
certificate. She has called every
official at the Federal and State level.
Mr. Brian Shuman from FEMA told her she did not need the
certificate. He sent her a letter to
that effect. She stated she had a copy
for the Mayor and Council. She asked
Mayor and Council if she could have her building permits by this Friday.
Mayor Burzichelli stated the Mayor and Council is not in a
position to direct the Construction Official because of how the structure is
but he suggested she take Mr. Shuman’s letter to the Construction Official
tomorrow and let him know how she makes out.
Ms. Armistead further stated that some trash cans are needed
on the streets in order to keep the neighborhoods clean.
Val Strockbine, 424 Thomson Avenue, discussed the County EMS
Regionalization. She was against the
regionalization.
Mayor Burzichelli stated the County is asking the Borough to
sign a letter of intent and the County will offer an explanation to Mayor and
Council. The County will be here at the
next meeting.
Mozelle Dansby, 1655 Swedesboro Avenue, stated the truck
traffic was picking up as well as speeding.
He also discussed the cars going in the back property and the stray cats
that are fertilizing his garden.
Mayor Burzichelli suggested Mr. Dansby contact the County
Animal Shelter as they will trap the stray cats.
Mr. Dansby stated cars are still jumping the curb off of Manor
Avenue. He suggested the Borough put a
berm in or some dirt to block it off.
Mrs. McCauley, 27 Monroe Street, stated her son had a BB gun
put to his temple for his bicycle. This
is scary as it is only the beginning of summer. This took place across the street from Wally’s.
Mayor Burzichelli stated that the Police Department will be starting
bicycle patrols and it should stop some of this activity.
Jason Coleman, 726 Billings Avenue, Paulsboro Soccer
Association, requested permission to use the budget to install a sprinkler
system. He also stated that he sent a
letter to Mayor and Council regarding a new fence and landscaping.
Mayor Burzichelli stated that the new fence and landscaping
will be paid for by the people who will be putting in the tanks. He will get an answer for the sprinkler
system.
Angie Frisbey, 9 West Washington Street, stated that she can’t
get any rest because her neighbors (7 West Washington Street) are noisy all the
time.
Mayor Burzichelli stated the Borough will look into this
problem and maybe can cite them under the nuisance code.
Larry Sheffield, 1658 Swedesboro Avenue, thanked the Borough
for getting the field next to him mowed.
He wanted to know what he could do if it wasn’t cut in the future.
Mayor Burzichelli stated to call the Code Office and someone
will go by and cite them for tall grass.
Mrs. Frisbey questioned if there was a limit to how many
people are allowed on steps. They are
also sitting on her steps.
Mayor Burzichelli stated they are not allowed on her
property. If they are, to call the
Police and they will remove them from her property.
There wasn’t any further public participation.
R. #88.07: RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS OUT OF THE 2007 TEMPORARY BUDGET.
Administrator Salvatore added on the following bills:
Voucher #31045 – Triad
Voucher #32137 – Atlantic City Electric
Voucher #32132 – Service Trak Network
Voucher #32134 – NJ Tax Collectors and Treasurers Association
Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to pay all bills, including the additions, and adopt R. #88.07. Roll call: Ayes: Giovannitti, Hamilton, Kidd, Morina, Tedeski. Nays: None. Motion carried.
R. #89.07: RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE A RESERVE FOR PRELIMINARY EXPENSES OUT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND OF THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITY CAPITAL FUND OF THE BOROUGH OF PAULSBORO. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to adopt R. #89.07. Roll call: Ayes: Giovannitti, Hamilton, Kidd, Morina, Tedeski. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Summary of reports and copies of minutes of meetings. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive, and file. All were in favor of the motion.
Letter from John Ruth, Jr., State of New Jersey, Division of Contract Compliance and Equal Employment Opportunity in Public Contracts, regarding agency review. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive and file the letter. All were in favor of the motion.
Letter from Judge William J. Golden regarding Exit Conference – Comments and Recommendations Paulsboro Municipal Court. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive and file the letter. All were in favor of the motion.
Letter from Rafael – Annie Rivera, (Church at 28 Jefferson Street), requesting to hold special services at the Fort Billings Park on June 9th & 23rd and July 14th & 28th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. with a maximum of 40 people attending. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive, file the letter, and grant them approval as long as there aren’t any conflicts with anyone else using the park. All were in favor of the motion.
Letter from Kris Kolluri, New Jersey Department of Transportation, regarding FY 2008 Municipal Aid Program. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive and file the letter. All were in favor of the motion.
Memo from Monroe Township regarding Abbot-Burke Reform. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive and file the memo. All were in favor of the motion.
Letter from Shawn Menzies, Township of Mantua, regarding Resolution 104-2007 opposing Assembly Bill No. A-3860. Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to receive and file the letter. All were in favor of the motion.
OLD BUSINESS:
There wasn’t any old business at this time.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS:
Mayor Burzichelli discussed the Emergency Medical Services Regionalization through the County. He stated that the challenge to locate volunteers is very demanding but they have held the municipalities together. The County has done a study. They are hoping to regionalize ten towns by the end of September and the next set of towns in January 2008. The County is asking for a letter of intent from each municipality who is interested in signing up for the regionalization.
Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of intent and send it to the County.
Councilman Kidd had some questions regarding insurance issues.
All were in favor of the above motion.
Mayor Burzichelli stated the time for the next Work Session Meeting would need to be moved to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate the County’s presentation on regionalization of the EMS Program.
Councilwoman Tedeski stated the Borough will be starting their summer concert series. The first concert is scheduled for June 27th at Fort Billings Park.
Councilwoman Tedeski stated the Fourth of July Parade will be held on that date and it is coming along.
Councilwoman Tedeski further stated the Paulsboro Day Committee is holding a raffle at the end of the Fourth of July Parade if anyone was interested in purchasing any tickets.
Councilman Morina stated that the Memorial Day Services was a very nice day. He felt more could have attended and maybe should advertise it in the newspaper next year.
Councilman Morina stated he is trying to coordinate a Borough newspaper called the “The Record Today” and it will go out bi-monthly. Anyone interested in supporting this newspaper is to contact him.
Councilman Morina discussed hiring another Police Officer. He felt Mayor and Council should think about this and make a recommendation.
Councilman Morina stated the Code Enforcement Committee meets once a month and one of the issues at these meetings is speeding.
Councilman Morina thanked everyone for coming to the meeting to hear the concerns.
Councilman Giovannitti stated there will be a recycling collection change starting June 18th and again on June 21st. The town will be split with collection from I-295 to the Railroad tracks beginning June 18th and from the Railroad tracks to the River on June 21st.
Councilman Giovannitti stated the “Earn and Learn” Program will be starting up soon.
Councilman Giovannitti placed a recycling pamphlet in all of Council’s mailboxes.
Councilman Giovannitti stated the summer events are nice events; he promotes them and invited everyone to come out.
Councilman Giovannitti stated the new parking lot is shaping up across the street and Administrator Salvatore did a good job with it.
Councilman Giovannitti congratulated the three candidates on graduating from the Police Academy.
Councilman Kidd questioned when the department head meetings would start up again.
Mayor Burzichelli stated he is aware that there is Code Meetings but he was not sure about the other departments.
Councilman Kidd discussed the property at 123 Adams Street. He stated when the waterline was installed, the sidewalk was covered. He suggested looking up the records to see when the road was done. The person living there is a senior citizen and is handicapped. He is worried about any sewer problems.
Councilman Kidd discussed the lot on Adams Street as there has been trash sitting there for six or seven months.
Councilman Kidd questioned the status of the NPP program.
Mayor Burzichelli stated there wasn’t any money but that he did not have an answer for Councilman Kidd tonight.
Councilman Kidd stated there is high grass on a property on Swedesboro Avenue. He hopes the person builds a better home then how the property is taken care of.
Councilman Hamilton requested permission to hold his annual Block Party on Paul Avenue on August 4th. Giovannitti moved and Tedeski seconded to approve the block party, notify and coordinate the party through the proper departments. All were in favor of the motion.
Councilman Hamilton suggested talking to the parents and residents about the laundry hanging on the front porch and the kids playing in the back yards instead of in their front yards.
Councilman Hamilton thanked the Paulsboro Volunteer Fire Department, the Ambulance and the Police Department who was on the scene on Memorial Day weekend when his grandson was hit by a car.
Mayor Burzichelli asked for a motion to change the time of the Work Session Meeting on June 19th to 6:00 p.m.
Giovannitti moved and Hamilton seconded to change the time of the Work Session Meeting on June 19th to 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ayes: Giovannitti, Hamilton, Kidd, Morina, Tedeski. Nays: None. Motion carried.
Mayor Burzichelli gave updates on the Land Use Board actions. The Wawa at Exit 18 is due back next month and the Bank got their approvals from NJDOT.
There wasn’t any further Borough business.
Hamilton moved and Tedeski seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. All were in favor of the motion.
This is a brief summary of the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Paulsboro held on June 6, 2007 and should not be considered a verbatim transcript of the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________ _____________________________
Kathy A. VanScoy, RMC/CMC John J. Burzichelli, Mayor
Borough Clerk