NORTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

March 6, 2025 7:00 P.M.

VIA CONFERENCE CALL: Dial In: 1-888-482-9769; Access Code 4493305#

OR

IN PERSON

CALL TO ORDER Mayor DeBaecke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

FLAG SALUTE: Led by Mayor DeBaecke followed by a moment of silence

INVOCATION: Mr. Wayne Voorhees welcomed Clerk Beyer and wished her luck as she begins her tenure. He lifted up an Eagle Scout candidate for his upcoming presentation. He asked for blessings for North Hanover Township, our County and State.

ROLL CALL: Mayor DeBaecke

Deputy Mayor Doyle

Committeeman Forsyth

Committeeman Giberson

Committeeman Palombi

Absent: None

Also Present: Township Administrator Joseph Bellina, Municipal Clerk Scout Beyer, Township Attorney Roselli and Township Engineer Villacis

SUNSHINE STATEMENT: “The provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act have been met. Notice of this meeting has been transmitted by email to the Burlington County Times and The Courier Post 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 AS IT RELATES TO AGENDA ITEMS

OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT

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

MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT

Proposed By: Deputy Mayor Doyle

Seconded By: Committeeman Palombi

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT – Sensory Painted Play Space

An Eagle Scout candidate presented a project to create a sensory painted play space at Green Acres Park. Township Committee members suggested a location for the play space and Mayor DeBaecke offered to meet with the candidate to finalize the location. Deputy Mayor Doyle inquired about the costs associated with the project and the Eagle Scout explained that he will solicit donations from local businesses and fundraise the costs to complete it. Township Committee members unanimously approved the project.

REVIEW OF CORRESPONDENCE

There was no correspondence this evening.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

Ms. Kat Villacis reported that the municipal doors replacement project is completed and closeout documents from the contractor have been requested. FY23 NJDOT Stewart Road/Ivy Lane project is currently awaiting schedule for striping and then the contract will be closed. FY24 NJDOT Ivy Lane/Chestnut Drive project has a final payment and Change Order#1 has been submitted for processing. Mayor DeBaecke inquired about solar lights for the gazebo located across from Green Acres Park and Engineer Villacis will follow-up on that request.

MINUTES FOR APPROVAL

• February 20, 2025 – Regular Meeting

• February 20, 2025 – Executive Session

BILLS AND CLAIMS FOR APPROVAL

Committeeman Palombi inquired about the payment for traffic lighting on county roads. Attorney Roselli confirmed the Township is responsible for the costs.

ORDINANCE – INTRODUCTION

2025-02 Ordinance to Exceed the Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits and to Establish a Cap Bank Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14

MOTION TO INTRODUCE

SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 20, 2025 AT 7:00 P.M.

ORDINANCE – INTRODUCTION

2025-03 An Ordinance Authorizing an Emergency Appropriation Under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-53 for the Purpose of Preparing and Digitizing Tax Maps of the Township of North Hanover

MOTION TO INTRODUCE

SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 20, 2025 AT 7:00 P.M.

ORDINANCE – INTRODUCTION

2025-04 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, §2-040 of The Revised General Ordinances of the Township of North Hanover by Establishing a New §2-040.10 Entitled “Purchasing Agent”

MOTION TO INTRODUCE

SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 20, 2025 AT 7:00 P.M.

CONSENT AGENDA DEFINED:

All Resolutions listed on today’s consent agenda are to be considered as one vote by Township Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.

2025-60 Resolution Increasing Deferred Local School Tax

RESOLUTION 2025-60

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

COUNTY OF BURLINGTON

RESOLUTION INCREASING DEFERRED LOCAL SCHOOL TAX

WHEREAS, under the provisions of statute, when a municipality raises school taxes on a school year basis, an amount of not more than fifty percent of the levy may be deferred to the following year, providing no requisition has been made for such amount or any portion of such amount; and

WHEREAS, the North Hanover Township School District tax is levied on a school year basis; and

WHEREAS, fifty percent of the school tax levy of the North Hanover Township School District levied by the Township of North Hanover in 2024 is $ 1,717,687.50; and

WHEREAS, $ 1,684,007.00 of the above amount has previously been deferred, leaving an available balance of $ 33,680.50 to be deferred.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the governing body of the Township of North Hanover hereby desires to defer additional school district tax in the amount of $ 33,680.50 for the year 2024.

2025-61 Resolution Increasing Deferred Regional School Tax

RESOLUTION 2025-61

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

COUNTY OF BURLINGTON

RESOLUTION INCREASING DEFERRED REGIONAL SCHOOL TAX

WHEREAS, under the provisions of statute, when a municipality raises school taxes on a school year basis, an amount of not more than fifty percent of the levy may be deferred to the following year, providing no requisition has been made for such amount or any portion of such amount; and

WHEREAS, the North Hanover Township Regional School District tax is levied on a school year basis; and

WHEREAS, fifty percent of the school tax levy of the North Hanover Township Regional School District levied by the Township of North Hanover in 2024 is $ 1,571,846.81; and

WHEREAS, $ 1,423,437.50 of the above amount has previously been deferred, leaving an available balance of $ 148,409.31 to be deferred.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the governing body of the Township of North Hanover hereby desires to defer additional school district tax in the amount of $ 148,409.31 to the year 2024.

NON-CONSENT AGENDA

2025-62 Resolution Accepting Maintenance Bond for the FY 2024 Ivy Lane and Chestnut Drive Improvements Project

RESOLUTION 2025-62

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

COUNTY OF BURLINGTON

A Resolution Accepting Maintenance Bond FOR the FY 2024 IVY LANE AND CHESTNUT DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

WHEREAS, the project engineer, Joseph Hirsh, of Environmental Resolutions Inc. has inspected the improvements by Arawak Paving Company, for the FY2024 Ivy Lane and Chestnut Drive Improvements Project and recommended that the final payment be released due to the posting of the following:

Maintenance Bond number 0260939M0 by Berkley Insurance Company in the amount of $18,603.34 for the Ivy Lane and Chestnut Drive Improvements Project to expire two years from the date of October 22, 2024.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Township Committee of the Township of North Hanover hereby authorizes the release of the final payment and performance bond to Berkley Insurance Company for the Ivy Lane and Chestnut Drive Improvements Project due to the posting and acceptance of the bonds cited above.

2025-63 Resolution Authorizing Change Order #1, Final to Arawak Paving Company Related to the Ivy Lane and Chestnut Drive Improvements Project

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-63

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER #1, FINAL TO ARAWAK PAVING COMPANY RELATED TO THE IVY LANE AND CHESTNUT DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

WHEREAS, by Resolution 2022-105, the North Hanover Township Committee awarded a Contract to Arawak Paving Company for the Ivy Lane and Chestnut Drive Improvements Project in the amount of $131,600.00; and

WHEREAS, the Township of North Hanover has funded the project through a FY2024 NJDOT Municipal Aid Grant in the amount of $130,560.00; and

WHEREAS, the contract required adjustment to reflect actual, completed, construction quantities; and

WHEREAS, current Change Order #1 will bring the adjusted Contract price to $124,022.29 which is an overall decrease to the original Contract price by 5.76% and is permitted under the Local Public Contracts Law, and the Regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and the Township Committee deems it appropriate to authorize this Change Order, subject to and contingent upon compliance with the conditions set forth below,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of North Hanover, County of Burlington, State of New Jersey that Change Order #1, submitted by Arawak Paving Company and reviewed and authorized by the Township Engineer, is approved in the amount of $7,577.71 to be reduced from the contract, resulting in an adjusted contract amount of $124,022.29; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nothing herein contained shall be deemed a waiver by the Township of any claims it currently possesses, or may possess in the future, regarding this Contract, the existing insurance policy, Performance and Payment Bond, and any other rights, privileges or remedies otherwise available to it.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the following:

1. Arawak Paving Company

2. Environmental Resolutions, Inc.

3. Chief Financial Officer

4. Municipal Clerk

2025-64 Resolution Authorizing an Extension and Amendment to Contract by and between the Township of North Hanover and JB Lawn and Land Care, LLC for the Provision of Grass Cutting and Maintenance of North Hanover Township Property and Recreation Fields within the Township of North Hanover

RESOLUTION 2025-64

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

COUNTY OF BURLINGTON

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION AND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER AND JB LAWN AND LAND CARE, LLC FOR THE PROVISION OF GRASS CUTTING AND MAINTENANCE OF NORTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP PROPERTY AND RECREATION FIELDS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

WHEREAS, the Township of North Hanover (hereinafter “Township”) previously awarded by way of public bid by way of Resolution No. 2023-48 adopted March 2, 2023, a contract (hereinafter “Contract”) to JB Lawn and Land Care, LLC having an address at 1058 Provinceline, Allentown, NJ 08501 (hereinafter “Contractor”) for the provision of Grass Cutting and Maintenance services for the Township property and Recreation Fields for an initial term of April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025 and for the base contract of $40,000.00 ($20,000.00 per year); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the initial Contract and the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., the term of the Contract can be extended by the Township for up to two (2), one (1) year additional terms, upon a finding that the services are being performed in an effective and efficient manner; the price change in the contract is based upon the price of the original contract as cumulatively adjusted pursuant to any previous adjustment or extension, not to exceed the change in the index rate for the 12 months preceding the most recent quarterly calculation available at the time the contract is renewed; and the terms and conditions of the Contract remain substantially the same; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with the paragraph 3 of the Contract, the Township by resolution can extend the term of the Contract, commencing April 1, 2025 for an additional one year, under the same terms and conditions, except that the fee to be paid under the Contract can increase by 2.5%, to $20,500.00 on an annual basis, the maximum amount permitted under state law; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee finds that the services being performed by the Contractor are being performed in an effective and efficient manner; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Contract, the Township wishes to extend the term of the Contract for an additional one-year term, commencing April 1, 2025 and terminating March 31, 2026 under the same terms and conditions, and to amend paragraph 2 of the Contract, to increase the fee to be paid to $20,500.00 on an annual basis, to be paid monthly at the rate of $1,708.33 per month, which represents a 2.5% increase over the prior year’s price, the maximum permitted under state law; and

WHEREAS, the Contractor has consented to the extension of the Contract for the additional one-year, under the same terms and conditions of the original contract, with the increase of the fee to be paid to $20,500.00, to be paid monthly at the rate of $1,708.33 per month.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of North Hanover, County of Burlington, State of New Jersey that it does hereby authorize a one-year extension and amendment to the Contract with JB Lawn and Land Care, LLC having an address at 1058 Provinceline Road, Allentown, NJ 08501 by extending the term of the contract for one year term; and increasing the contract price to $20,500.00 on an annual basis, to be paid on a pro-rated monthly basis at the rate of $1,708.33 per month; with all other terms and conditions of the contract remaining the same.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Municipal Clerk be and are hereby authorized to execute an Amendment to Contract memorializing the changes set forth herein.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to JB Lawn and Land Care, LLC, Chief Financial Officer and Township Treasurer.

DISCUSSION

There were no discussion items.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE “COMMENTS”

Deputy Mayor Doyle commended the volunteer firefighters for their response in preventing a brush fire from entering into North Hanover. He additionally commended Georgette Pagliocca, the EMS staff on scene, for directing traffic.

Mayor DeBaecke additionally commended the volunteer firefighters and Township EMS for their responses as well as their response to a mobile home fire earlier in the month. He additionally welcomed Joseph Bellina into the role of Township Administrator.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Questions, comments or statements from members of the public in attendance.

OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT

Proposed By: Deputy Mayor Doyle

Seconded By: Committeeman Forsyth

EXECUTIVE SESSION RESOLUTION

2025-65 Authorizing a Closed Session Meeting to discuss the following matter(s) pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and N.J.S.A. 10:4-12; Contract Negotiations – Shared Services Agreement with Bd of Ed for SLEO IIIs, Personnel and Litigation matters

RESOLUTION 2025-65

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HANOVER

COUNTY OF BURLINGTON

AUTHORIZING A CLOSED SESSION MEETING

WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, P.L. 1975, Chapter 231 and P.L. 2001, C. 404, permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting in certain circumstances; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee of North Hanover Township wishes to go into a closed Executive Session and is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist which should not be discussed in public, and

WHEREAS. the Open Public Meetings Act pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 permits the Township Committee to discuss certain matter(s) in private, and in this case for the purpose of the Township Committee to discuss contract negotiations, litigation and personnel matters in this regard.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by Township Committee of North Hanover Township that it will go into an Executive Session for the purpose of the Township Committee to discuss Contract Negotiations – Shared Services Agreement with Bd of Ed for SLEO IIIs, Litigation and Personnel matters.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results of such discussion may be revealed at such time as the matter(s) are resolved and/or a contract(s) is signed and/or the negotiations are formally settled. Interested parties may contact the Township Clerk anytime during normal business hours for periodic updates as to the availability in this regard.

MOTION TO ADJOURN TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION 7:23 pm

Proposed By: Deputy Mayor Doyle

Seconded By: Mayor DeBaecke

Respectively submitted,

Scout Beyer

Scout Beyer, RMC/CMR

Municipal Clerk