Post #30 A most interesting 6/14/11 council meeting

This is a compilation of the June 14th, 2011 workshop and council meeting; maybe a little dry but contains the info of what transpired, hopefully in proper order. Detail may be lacking since I took notes while people spoke. If anyone has an addition or clarification, please notify me for correction. The boro admin also has her transcript on the boro website.

The TREE felt it appropriate to chronicle these 2 sequential meetings since they had many interesting facets and issues for the public. First this was held on Flag Day, and we certainly saw democracy in action.

The workshop normally prior to the council meeting started at 7PM. From the very start, both the workshop and council meetings had the residents very involved. There were 35 people in attendance and 2 stringers. The workshop meeting actually went to 8:56pm, nearly 2 hours; and since as far back as I was attending, this was a record duration. At workshop start, Don Guerriello, the boro engineer gave his report regarding the construction bids for the latest DOT project for our local roads; that the plans are still down in Trenton waiting to be signed by the proper parties. Mr. Triarsi the boro attorney discussed the 6 zoning ordinances being presented at next meeting; the Pointe's contentious issue regarding snow plowing (the Pointe association must do it); and the process of health cost deductions from the boro employees. Councilors Todisco and Sluka questioned the boro attorney regarding personnel policies, raises, yearly reviews and the procedures involved.

At 7:15pm, the meeting then continued into the report by Steve Greet, our Garwood RVSA representative. (Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority). He reported that the RVSA is restructuring from 60 employees to 55 employees, there is a new executive director at a reduced salary, labor negotiations are ongoing. He also noted many issues of litigation. One was the adjunct cogen facility which is now shut down indefinitely. The facility cost about $20 mill to build and is useless. RVSA is suing the designer, construction manager, contractors for this for a total of $36 million. (This is a travesty in itself and could be a separate blog. Suffice to say, Senator Lesniak had his greasy fingers all over this boondoggle, from the initiation of the expansion project right down to the filing of the suit against the same parties that he, as a political boss, in behind the scenes control of the RVSA pushed them onto the RVSA expansion project.) Also, I&I (inflow and infiltration) is a serious problem and each municipality needs to address this at the residential level. A resident asked about the Pay to Put $2 mill loss to PSE&G for not using gas service adn which the RVSA has to pay; and the Clark/Gypsum Plant lawsuit which Clark lost.

At 7:30pm there was a handout to the public and presentation on the latest plans for the recreation complex. This portion lasted until 8:17pm. Most of the residents were there for this issue. Mr Musial, the architect gave the presentation, explaining the construction alternates for the building, decking and field. The plans will be sent to Trenton/Green Acres for the next step in the approval process, and the plans will go out to bid soon. This will take 30-60 days. The existing kitchen appliances are to be removed and reused, although some are borrowed and leased. The building and deck is raised 2 feet above the flood plain. Many questions from the audience arose regarding: parking spots, building orientation, the storage building, lighting, the original dedication plaques, security, bleachers, second scoreboard (none), kitchen equipment, physical plant, a necessary hose-bib for the field sprinkler system, and is there a separate area for picnics and Frisbee throwing (not really). 2 interesting issues that were broached was: who owns the existing building. If it is the baseball league, then there is a serious problem that may halt construction since proper authorization hasn’t been retrieved. Also a question of maintenance of the entire complex and the cost arose. The president of the baseball league said that the league is presently taking care of the existing facilities and so will then take care of the entire complex. However, he qualified it that the same crew may not be around in 5 years. As to cost, this was downplayed in that already there is gas and electricity being paid for; and there will be no maintenacne labor costs since the league will take care of everything. A resident brought up that the Cranford residents on Rankin avenue across from the complex should be notified prior to construction, but this suggestion was dismissed by the governing body for no reason given.

In a continuation of the workshop meeting the mayor opened up discussion to the governing body for general issues. Further discussion was: an Open Public records seminar will be given to those involved in boro public service. There will be a “Purple Heart monument” donated by that organization to be erected in the boro. Location unknown at this time. This will be handled by the VFW and the KOC. Also Cnclor Sluka said a PBA plaque will be given to PO Wright at the little league field.

One issue in particular which raised eyebrows in the public was when Councilor Matthieu wanted to speak about the Police Chief search. This quickly turned into a grave issue taking on an “inquisition” type Q&A with Councilor JM asking questions to Mayor PQ and Councilor T Hak, both who were on the police chief search committee. JM’s questions were as follows: he asked if they had read or were aware of “statute title 40” right in the beginning of the search process; also wanted to know if the committee went outside of the department during the search; what is the governing body going to do about the media already reporting previously that the new chief was “selected”. JM had problems with this word. He wanted the mayor to send a retraction to the paper since the new Chief wasn’t “selected”. He found fault with the departmental structure once a lieutenant is promoted to chief and there is then a gap in command that is missing a captain and a lieutenant. JM stated that this is then in violation of our own ordinances. In a quick response to JM’s last allegation, boro attorney Triarsi said, “Just because a councilman says something is in violation, doesn’t make it so.” JM also wanted to know when he can see Underhill’s resume and wants to discuss this before any voting takes place.

Mayor PQ and TH responded in proper fashion to each of JM’s queries. I will not specify who did each response but together as follows: The committee became aware of the statutes during the search process. There are 300 sub sections and the committee was reading each for applicability when JM first referenced to the committee the one about internal commands and promotions. They were not aware of this one right in the beginning of the search. The initial plan was to promote from within to maintain the decorum of the department. As to the medias’ misstatement about "selection", the mayor was not going to do a retraction, that JM had already sent a letter into the paper with a correction. The word “selection” is inappropriate, and that the search committee only “recommended” Lt. Underhill for chief. It needs to go to vote of the governing body. This will be done in the June 28th council mtg and the swearing in will be July 1st. (JM responded to this that he is put in an awkward position whether to vote "no" since he had questions about the integrity of the process.) As to the gap in the command structure, there is always time and latitude for promotional issues, they don’t always have to be done all at once. First the chief and then the other promotions will happen. Underhill’s resume will be distributed prior to the vote at end of June's meeting. This then ended the Q&A on the police chief search.

The meeting was opened to the public at 8:50pm to which Ms. R Snow stood up and said that there were 2 incidents of harassment while she walked on Willow and on East. She said it consisted of a councilman and “you know who you are!” She stated that she went to Lt. Underhill and he said it will be resolved. Workshop was over at 8:55pm.

The council meeting started at 9:05pm after a 10 minute break. This portion went quick with the usual committee reports held to a minimum. The “hearing of the citizens” portion had commentary on the upcoming 10 year memorial event for 9/11 in September. This will be handled by the boro's celebrations committee. A resident asked if shared services will involve police dispatch being turned over to the county. Councilors JM and KS responded that they had attended a “shared service” symposium held between the county and it's towns the other month and they filled out a line on a piece of paper that was handed out at that symposium that asked what our town may consider. They noted that “dispatch” was something they jotted down, but they did not follow up on it. There are 8 other towns now seriously considering dispatch to be handled by the county, Garwood not one of the 8. At the closing of the comment period, a Ms. McCarrick stood up and chastised councilor JM, that he spoke out of order in his arguing with the Mayor and TH, and was not in the dignity of a council position. Mayor PQ then closed the public hearing portion.

For the final meeting's disposition, on the consent agenda is listed resolution 11-203 authorizing the boro administrator to advertise in the newspapers for bidders for the Athletic Field Complex project. it was voted for by unanimous vote.

The meeting was then adjourned by mayor PQ at 9:33pm. A rare length of 2 1/2 hours.