Regular
Meeting of the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission
Roxbury
Recreation Office
72 Eyland
Avenue, Succasunna, NJ 07876
October 14,
2015 7pm to 10pm
MINUTES
1. Call
to Order
a.
Chairman Heard called the meeting to order at
7pm
2. Pledge
of Allegiance
a.
Chairman Heard led the commission in the pledge
of allegiance
3. NJ
Open Public Meetings Law
a.
Secretary Rogers stated, This meeting has been
advertised and is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the
“Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act,” P.L. 1975, c. 231
4. Roll
Call
a.
The following were in attendance: Paula Danchuk, Jerry Frisco, Vincent Reilly,
Chris Rogers, Stephen Sadow, Laurel Whitney, Gene Paradiso, Craig Heard, Nancy
Absalon, Anthony Fernandez, George Haeuber, Roger Jinks
b.
The following were absent: Maureen Castriotta, Chris Raths, Larry
Millus, Fred Hall
5. Introduction
of Elected Officials and/or Recognition of Their Representatives
a.
none
6. Election
and Installation of Officers, If Applicable
a.
none
7. Introduction
of Guest Speaker or Presentation, If Applicable
a.
none
8. Public
Comments on Agenda Items Only (Limited To 3 Minutes Per Person)
a.
none
9. Secretary’s
Report
a.
Correspondence
i.
Secretary Rogers stated there was no
correspondence
b.
2015-701 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington
Consolidation Study approves the minutes for September 9, 2015. See attached
i.
Gene Paradiso made a motion to approve the
minutes, Vincent Reilly seconded the motion
ii.
Maureen Castriotta - Absent, Paula Danchuk –
Abstain, Jerry Frisco - Y, Chris Raths - Absent, Vincent Reilly - Y, Chris Rogers
- Y, Stephen Sadow - Y, Laurel Whitney - Y, Gene Paradiso - Y, Craig Heard –
Y Motion passes
10. Treasurer’s
Report
a.
Bank Account Balance
i.
Treasurer Whitney reported the following:
1.
Gofundme page still hasn't had any activity
since last meeting. Waiting for a
Facebook or twitter page to promote and share it. In the meantime, please view
and share: http://www.gofundme.com/municipal-study. We should be getting the
check from our one Gofundme donation shortly for deposit (I was waiting to lump
them)
2.
Bank balance = $5108.84 as of 8/31 (unchanged
from last three months)
3.
The following contribution(s) were received
a.
n/a
4.
Expenditures:
a.
$16.72 from the Daily Record for 9/3 meeting
notices
5.
Reports available at any time
6.
Gofundme: 5%
+ 2.9% = 7.9% plus .30 per donation
b.
2015-702 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington
Consolidation Study approves the donations from September 9, 2015 to October
13, 2015. See attached
c.
2015-703 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington
Consolidation Study approves the expenditures from September 9, 2015 to October
13, 2015. See attached
i.
Gene Paradiso made a motion to approve the
treasurer's reports, Jerry Frisco seconded the motion
ii.
Anthony Fernandez asked if the name of the donor
is reported?
iii.
Treasurer Whitney stated that donors can make
themselves anonymous on the Go Fund Me website.
iv.
Anthony Fernandez stated that he could not
access the website
v.
Chris Rogers stated that anyone who had trouble
accessing the website should contact him
vi.
Maureen Castriotta - Absent, Paula Danchuk –
Abstain, Jerry Frisco - Y, Chris Raths - Absent, Vincent Reilly - Y, Chris Rogers
- Y, Stephen Sadow - Y, Laurel Whitney - Y, Gene Paradiso - Y, Craig Heard –
Y Motion passes
11. Chairman’s
Report
a.
Chairman Heard stated that he intends to meet
with Senator Bucco regarding the consolidation legislation
b.
Chairman Heard stated that everyone should sign
up on the website to receive updates when they are posted to the public
c.
Chairman Heard stated that he is still waiting
on several data collection requests from a few committees. Then he will speak to Chris Raths and Steve
Sadow to go over the language of the requests
d.
George Haeuber stated that the task of
completing a report from the DCA has not yet been assigned. He will report back at a future meeting
e.
Gene Paradiso asked what the report would
entail?
f.
Anthony Fernandez asked what entity gives the
information to the state?
g.
Roger Jinks stated that he had a conversation
with the Mount Arlington Superintendent of Schools. He will speak to the Roxbury Superintendent
of Schools soon.
h.
Vincent Reilly asked if he would be speaking to
Assemblyman or Senator Bucco regarding the legislation?
i.
Vincent Reilly stated that there was a recent
article about Senator Kean supporting consolidation efforts. He asked if someone should contact Senator
Kean?
j.
Chairman Heard said he would find the article
and reach out to Senator Kean.
k.
Chairman Heard said that he would like all
committees to go through the budget book that Fred Hall gave the
commission.
l.
Chairman Heard asked Steve Sadow if there was
anything similar in Mount Arlington to get a copy of?
m.
Vincent Reilly asked if the commission could
make several copies of the book?
i.
2015-706 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington
Consolidation Study creates 6 copies of the Roxbury Budget Book.
1.
Gene Paradiso made a motion to create copies of
6 Roxbury Budget Books, Paula Danchuk seconded the motion
2.
Maureen Castriotta - Absent, Paula Danchuk – Y, Jerry
Frisco - Y, Chris Raths - Absent, Vincent Reilly - Y, Chris Rogers - Y, Stephen
Sadow - Y, Laurel Whitney - Y, Gene Paradiso - Y, Craig Heard – Y Motion passes
12. Committee
Reports
a.
Data
Collection – Chair Craig Heard
i.
Craig
Heard stated that the Data Collection Committee would meet directly following
the commission meeting
b.
Municipal
Government – Chair Laurel Whitney
i.
Laurel
Whitney stated the committee is working on the initial report and the final
draft of the baseline comparison report
c.
Education
– Chair Gene Paradiso
i.
Gene
Paradiso stated that the committee is working on the baseline and comparison
report
d.
Finance/Administration
– Chair Jerry Frisco
i.
Jerry
Frisco stated that the committee is speaking with Chris Raths about the proper
wording for the requested information to give to the data collection committee. Jerry Frisco stated that the request should
be done soon.
ii.
Nancy
Absalon offered her OPRA template to the Data Collection committee
e.
DPW /
Utilities – Chair Paula Danchuk
i.
Paula
Danchuk stated the committee had requested information from the township of
Mount Arlington.
ii.
Craig
Heard stated the data collection has the request and the partial denial. He plans to clean up the request and submit
again.
iii.
Paula
stated that Mount Arlington is reporting the request cost the township $400
iv.
Steve
Sadow stated Mount Arlington has a process to reduce litigation. Requests go to the clerk and then to the
borough attorney. That is the path that
OPRA requests take in Mount Arlington.
v.
Steve
Sadow stated that if documents do not exist, the clerk is not required to
create them. However, the clerk is
required to help the requestor if it is unclear what documents exist.
f.
Police/Fire/EMS
– Chair Larry Millus
i.
No
report
ii.
Chairman
Heard stated a list in information was sent to him by the committee chair
g.
Personnel
– Chair Vincent Reilly
i.
Vincent Reilly stated that he was in receipt of
the Roxbury budget book from Fred Hall.
There are approximately 35 sections.
Approximately 40 percent of the budget is the police force. Benefits costs were approximately 4.8 million
and the remainder was pension payments.
ii.
Vincent Reilly stated he would work with Steve
Sadow between now and December to obtain the Mount Arlington data.
iii.
Anthony Fernandez asked if a forensic accountant
will look at the budgets?
iv.
Gene Paradiso stated the commission would review
the findings and then the commission will decide if a professional will review
the findings.
v.
A back and forth discussion took place without the
chair’s recognition.
vi.
Anthony Fernandez stated that sometimes numbers
are padded but he was not specifically accusing anyone of anything improper
vii.
Craig Heard stated that a determination would be
made once the information has been gathered and reviewed
viii.
Chris Rogers asked for clarification if either
town currently used a forensic auditor normally.
ix.
Anthony Fernandez stated that forensic auditor
was the wrong term.
h.
Shared /
Social Services – Chair Fred Hall
i.
No
report given
i.
Grants Committee – Chair Jerry Frisco
i.
Jerry Frisco stated that he has done some
research on other government entities who are studying consolidation. Duchess County, New York has budgeted funds
for consolidation studies. Also Cornell
University has a Professor who has a great deal of knowledge on the topic. Her name is Margaret Warner.
ii.
Jerry Frisco stated that the committee is
currently talking about meeting with the Morris County Freeholders, Don Parisi
from the Scotch Plains Fanwood effort, Freeholder Rob Walton from Hunterdon
County as well as several Universities and Schools in the area.
iii.
Jerry Frisco suggested that we may want to seek
501c3 status
iv.
Laurel Whitney stated our current government
status would allow us to apply without incorporating. She also stated concern for spending $500 to
see the process through considering our current bank account balance.
v.
Jerry Frisco stated that we should wait until we
have a grant ready to write
vi.
Craig Heard asked if the process will require
personal information from the commissioners
vii.
Laurel Whitney stated that she would gather
information on how to form a 501c3 and report back
viii.
Chris Rogers stated that all committees should
suggest where the money could be used during the study to help identify grant
sources
ix.
Chris Rogers stated he would call Rutgers Newark
and report back
x.
The committee will meet again this Friday
13. Resolutions
a.
2015-704 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington
Consolidation Study approves the video prepared by Courage to Connect New
Jersey. The video will be used to
educate the public and raise funds for the consolidation study of the Roxbury
Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission.
i.
A recess was taken to allow all parties to view
the current video.
ii.
Gene Paradiso made a motion to approve the video
created by Courage to Connect NJ, Chris Rogers seconded the motion
iii.
Craig Heard read a letter aloud from Gina
Genovese
iv.
Steve Sadow apologized for not seeing the email
with the current video
v.
Laurel Whitney stated that the animation may
trivialize what we intended to do
vi.
Steve Sadow stated the video was juvenile
vii.
Chris Rogers stated that the video was to be
used by Courage to Connect to raise money on our behalf and we should be
thankful for the effort
viii.
Vincent Reilly said he would like to hear from
Butch (Anthony Fernandez)
ix.
Anthony Fernandez stated he did not like it but
he understands it is CTC’s video and not the work of the commission
x.
Steve Sadow stated the video trivializes what we
are doing
xi.
Craig Heard asked that the vote on the video be
tabled
b.
2015-705 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington
Consolidation Study approves the meeting schedule for 2016. See attached
i.
Gene Paradiso made a motion to accept the 2016
schedule of meetings, Paula Danchuk seconded the motion
ii.
Laurel Whitney stated that October 12th
is Yom Kippur and asked if would could move the October 2016 meeting to October
5th
iii.
Motion amended to approve October 5th
as the meeting date as long as it is available
iv.
Maureen Castriotta - Absent, Paula Danchuk – Y, Jerry
Frisco - Y, Chris Raths - Absent, Vincent Reilly - Y, Chris Rogers - Y, Stephen
Sadow - Y, Laurel Whitney - Y, Gene Paradiso - Y, Craig Heard – Y Motion passes
14. Old/Unfinished
Business
a.
Insurance
i.
No update given
15. New
Business
a.
Steve Sadow reported that Mayor Ondish is home
from the hospital
16. Public
Comment
a.
Ralph Nappi asked if the Roxbury budget book was
given to the commission?
b.
Craig Heard stated that it was
c.
Ralph Nappi asked if the same request had been
made of Mount Arlington?
d.
Craig Heard stated it was not yet made
e.
Ralph Nappi stated he did not think the process
was moving quickly and had serious doubts that the study would come together
f.
Jerry Frisco stated the committees are currently
giving their information requests to the chair
g.
Craig Heard stated the commission was still on
schedule
h.
Anthony Fernandez stated that Mount Arlington
was slammed with OPRA requests and that the procedure was put in place to avoid
litigation
17. Adjournment
a.
Chairman Heard adjourned the meeting at 8:40pm
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.