Minutes January 9, 2019 Meeting

Regular Meeting of the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission

Roxbury Recreation Office

72 Eyland Avenue, Succasunna, NJ 07876

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

7pm to 10pm

 

MINUTES

1. Call to Order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. NJ Open Public Meetings Law

a. 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

Paula D.    Fran D.   Melissa F.    Jerry F.   Craig H.   Larry M.   Gene P.   Vincent R.   Laurel W.   Dan K.    Bob D.   Nancy A.    Lee L.    

5. Introduction of Elected Officials and/or Recognition of Their Representatives

6. Election and Installation of Officers, If Applicable

7. Introduction of Guest Speaker or Presentation, If Applicable

8. Public Comments on Agenda Items Only (Limited to 3 Minutes per Person)

9. Secretary’s Report

a. 2019-01 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the minutes for August 22, 2018.   NOTE: see attached, -

Motion: Fran seconded: Paula

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y  Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y  Larry M. Y   Vincent R. Y  Laurel W. ___       Dan K. Y  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y  Craig H. Y 

Yeas: 8  Nays: _______   Abstain:

b. 2019-02 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the minutes for September 12, 2018.   NOTE: see attached,  

Motion: Fran seconded: Laurel

Paula D. ___   Fran D. Y  Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. ___  Larry M. ___   Vincent R. Y  Laurel W. Y       Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y  Craig H. Y

Yeas: 5  Nays: _______   Abstain:

c. 2019-03 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the minutes for October 10, 2018.   NOTE: see attached,  

Motion:  Vincent seconded:   Fran

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. ___  Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y  Laurel W. ___       Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y 

Yeas: 6  Nays: _______   Abstain:

 

10. Treasurer’s Report

1. Bank Account Balance -  $8,669.63 As of Dec. 31, 2018
2. Donations - $0.00
3. Expenditures - None

2019-04 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the Treasurer’s Report for period August 1 to December 31, 2018.   See attached 

Motion: Dan seconded: Larry           

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y   Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y   Laurel W. Y        Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y

Yeas: _  ___ Nays: _______   Abstain:

11. Chairman’s Report-Update

• Committee reports – Status, Target Completion Date
  • Roxbury:  Police/Fire/EMS, Personnel, DPW - Completed
  • MTA: Personnel, DPW, Budget - Completed
• Consultants Status Report
  • Update from Consultants
  • Insurance Renewed
• Final Committee Top Level Report completed, ready to share with DOE & DCA
• Update OPRA details- Roxbury BOE – No school level budgets, MTA Budget Dept. level details (as discussed at joint meeting on Dec 4, 2018).
• DCA extension
  12. Committee Reports – Open Discussion
  a. Data Collection – Chair Craig Heard
  b. Municipal Government – Chair Laurel Whitney
  c. Education – Chair Gene Paradiso  
  d. Finance/Administration – Chair Jerry Frisco  
  e. DPW / Utilities – Chair Paula Danchuk
  f. Police/Fire/EMS – Chair Larry Millus
  g. Personnel – Chair Vincent Reilly   
  h. Shared / Social Services – Chair Jerry Frisco
   

EXECUTIVE Session

2019-XX RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission - enter into Executive Session to discuss -

Motion:                    seconded:             

Paula D. ___   Fran D. ___  Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. ___  Larry M. ___   Vincent R. ___  Laurel W. ___       Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. ___  Craig H. ___

Yeas: _  ___ Nays: _______   Abstain:

2019-XX RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission - Close Executive Session and return to OPEN -

Motion:                    seconded:             

Paula D. ___   Fran D. ___  Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. ___  Larry M. ___   Vincent R. ___  Laurel W. ___       Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. ___  Craig H. ___

Yeas: _  ___ Nays: _______   Abstain:

14. Old/Unfinished Business

15. New Business

2019-05 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the 2019 Regular Meeting schedule – see attached

Motion: Nancy         seconded: Jerry      

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y   Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y   Laurel W. Y        Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y

Yeas: 8  Nays: _______   Abstain:

2019-06 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the submission of our Committee reports to DCA

Motion: Nancy           seconded: Larry       

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y   Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y   Laurel W. A        Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y

Yeas: 7  Nays: _______   Abstain: 1

2019-07 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the submission of our Committee reports to DOE after the 1/15 Education Committee mtg review

Motion:  Nancy           seconded:  Paula           

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y   Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y   Laurel W. A        Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y

Yeas: 7  Nays: _______   Abstain: 1

2019-08 RESOLVED, that the Roxbury Mount Arlington Consolidation Study Commission approves the request for an extension up to 12/31/2019 to the DCA

Motion:  Nancy         seconded:  Laurel           

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y   Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y   Laurel W. Y        Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y

Yeas: 8__ Nays: _______   Abstain:

 

16. Public Comment

17. Adjournment     9:11   pm

Motion: Nancy  seconded:  Paula             

Paula D. Y   Fran D. Y   Melissa F. ___  Jerry F. Y   Larry M. Y    Vincent R. Y   Laurel W. Y        Dan K. ___  Bob D. ___   Nancy A. ___    Lee L. ___  Gene P. Y   Craig H. Y

Yeas: 8  Nays: _______   Abstain:

 

FACT CHECK: CITIZENS AGAINST MERGER FLYER

FLYER HIGHLIGHTS:  Responses by Craig Heard, Commission Chairperson
(July 23, 2019)

“A group of outsiders has formed a “Consolidation Commission” to Force a MERGER.”

Response:  NOT TRUE

1. Commission members equally represent both Roxbury and Mt Arlington all are residents of their respective towns-not OUTSIDERS
2. The Commission cannot force a Consolidation. The Commission can only put the decision on a ballot for the public to decide in Roxbury and Mt Arlington, should the Commission feel there are savings to justify putting the vote on the ballot.

      The Voters ultimately decide what to do, not the Commission.

“MERGER will eliminate the Borough of Mt. Arlington.”

Response: NOT TRUE

1. Although not as a Borough, Mt Arlington keeps its identity, maintains its zip code and no one will need to change address
2. Roxbury and Mt Arlington will undergo exactly the same transitions
3. This is not a Merger. It is a Consolidation.

“One Million Dollar tax increase”

Response: NOT TRUE

1. This is not true. No Consolidation will be recommended by the commission for a public ballot unless there is property tax savings for BOTH municipalities acceptable to the Commission.
2. In fact, the Commission identified over $9 million in savings a year and the independent consultants found even more savings in excess of $11 million per year

“Selling buildings:” All Schools, Library, Borough Hall, Fire Trucks, Police Station, Snowplows, Dial a Ride, and others.

Response: NOT TOTALLY TRUE

1. The Commission recommends, in a consolidation, closing Decker due to low usage and enrolment as well as Roxbury’s Lincoln Roosevelt.
2. Other buildings are under consideration for sale or for repurposing to be determined by transition team.
3. Lake Rogerene Fire House is recommended to be consolidated into Roxbury and assets can be moved to other fire houses, if needed
4.  Mt. Arlington borough hall may be consolidated and perhaps used for Senior Citizen center
5. Police Station may remain as a sub-station.
6. No plans have been discussed for snowplows or Dial-a-Ride, but intention is to increase services for both municipalities, not decrease.

“Unelected by Voters, self-proclaimed “Commission” in its own report provides for no PROPERTY TAX DECREASE AT ALL FOR MT ARLINGTON RESIDENTS.”

Response: NOT TRUE

1. The Commission was approved by the State of New Jersey DCA in 2015 under the Consolidation Statute, after securing the necessary votes from Mt Arlington and Roxbury voters to be represented.
2. The Commission is not self-proclaimed and remains under the supervision of the DCA and DOE.
3. There has not been a published report showing NO PROPERTY TAX DECREASE TO MT ARLINGTON.
    
   SUMMARY: The Commission has projected savings in a Consolidation and would NEVER go forward with a Commission recommendation to put a vote on the ballot unless both Roxbury and Mt Arlington have a significant property tax savings! PERIOD! It is clear from this flyer and Facebook postings that the public is being misinformed. Additionally, contrary to Mayor Stanzilis’s announcement at a Mt Arlington Seniors meeting 2 weeks ago, Senator Sweeney office confirmed that it has not made any statement nor decision regarding Consolidation.