TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

SPECIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP

MARCH 1, 2021 6:00 P.M.

VIA CONFERENCE CALL:  Dial In: 1-855-774-8852; Access Code 7589919790

OR

IN PERSON LIMITED TO THE FIRST 13 REGISTERED

TO REGISTER EMAIL: CLERK@NORTHHANOVERTWP.COM

CALL TO ORDER                      Deputy Mayor DeBaecke called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

FLAG SALUTE:                    Led by Deputy Mayor DeBaecke

ROLL CALL:                         Mayor Doyle – Virtual Attendance

                                                Deputy Mayor DeBaecke

                                                Committeeman Forsyth

                                                Committeeman Kocubinski

Absent:                                     Committeeman O’Donnell

Also Present:  Township Clerk Picariello

SUNSHINE STATEMENT:           “The provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act have been met. Notice of this meeting has been transmitted by email to the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and The Trenton Times as well as given to those having requested same and posted on the Township bulletin board located in the foyer of the municipal building”.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Members of the public wishing to address the Township Committee must state their name and address for the record. 

Deputy Mayor DeBaecke opened the meeting to the public.  There were no public comments this evening.

MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT

Proposed By: Committeeman Kocubinski

Seconded By: Committeeman Forsyth

BUDGET WORKSHOP – TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO REVIEW BUDGET LINE ITEMS – NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN

Deputy Mayor DeBaecke noted OIC Duff presented a revised budget proposal.  Mayor Doyle directed the Committee’s attention to page 17 of the budget reports.  Deputy Mayor DeBaecke noted his questions were clarified by OIC Duff, as it related to ammunition.  Mayor Doyle noted prior years expenditures for ammunition.  There was a general consensus to increase the line item by $3,000.  Joe Greene, Treasurer, noted he could reallocate within the Police Budget to cover it.  OIC Duff noted the increase needed for computer access fees.  Joe Greene discussed his concerns regarding the car camera annual fee and would address in this budget.  There was a general consensus to hold off on the body cameras until such time information comes from the State.  OIC Duff noted the current system could handle the storage for the body cameras.  Mayor Doyle noted the car lease money will be used towards the purchase of a new police explorer and the balance out of capital.  CFO Bruno reminded the Committee that Sedans cannot be a Capital purchase.  Committeeman Kocubinski noted a line item discrepancy in the Police Budget.  OIC Duff noted the discrepancy would be corrected with the re-allocation.  Joe Greene discussed the grass contract and the need to properly allocate funding for the contract, due to the higher contract amount awarded.  He noted he would be reducing the health insurance line to cover the police e-ticket and grass budgets.  Mayor Doyle made inquiry concerning the pension increase.  CFO Bruno noted it was based on the bill and it is based on the States funding formula.  He noted the budget increase is based upon this bill and the discretionary items are in balance.  The Committee directed an increase in the legal line item.  Joe Greene noted he would review within the budget to see if he can come up with the increase and would report back next meeting.  Mayor Doyle expressed concern with Court’s 12% increase and proposed drop in cases.  Joe Greene stated he felt the court budget was fine.  There was discussion related to EMS services.  CFO Bruno noted 6 months of 2021 needs to be accounted for.  There was an additional review of the fire budget.  CFO Bruno suggested to move the added funds to the capital fund.  The capital budget was established for Police Car, Fire Equipment, Drainage Improvements, Ambulance remount, Water system improvements, Generator gas conversion, Generators, and new sound recording microphones.  There was a consensus to have CFO Bruno put numbers together and report the tax impact back to the Committee on March 18^th.  The desired introduction would be at the April 1^st meeting.  Mayor Doyle expressed his desire to avoid a tax increase due to the struggles of the residents during COVID.  Deputy Mayor DeBaecke inquired about the snow budget.  Joe Greene noted we were good as long as we don’t have anymore storms.  CFO Bruno noted after analyzation he would present several options for the Township Committee’s consideration. 

MOTION TO ADJOURN                                                     8:39 pm

Proposed By: Committeeman Kocubinski

Seconded By: Committeeman Forsyth

Respectively submitted,

_______________________

Mary Picariello, RMC/CMR/CTC

Township Clerk