The Township Committee minutes for 1/12/09

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Reports and Communications

--Mayor

Mayor Stave reported the Township Committee had a Budget Meeting on Saturday,
January 10, 2009 which lasted approximately six (6) hours and a lot of progress had been
made. Among the decisions that were made were to freeze the salaries of the Township
Committee for the third year in a row, eliminate the mailing of the bi-annual Township
newsletter. It will be formatted to be posted on the Township’s web site and print some
copies for Town Hall and the Library for those residents who do not have internet capability.
The Township is also looking at ways to reduce the use of paper wherever possible. All of
the documents the Township Committee receives on a weekly basis will no longer be copied.
Also, whenever office supplies are ordered for Town Hall, they will always be the plain
“vanilla”, no colored paper clips variety, etc. Mayor Stave added the Township Committee is
getting a lot of good ideas on ways to cut costs from its boards and committees as well as its
staff.

Mayor Stave also reported she has asked the new Chair of the Board of Health, Dr. Daniel
Notterman and the outgoing Chair, Cheryl Coyle, to attend the Township Committee meeting
on January 26, 2009 to report to the Township Committee, the licensing of cats in the
Township. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting as they will be discussing the
reasons why this is necessary.

Mayor Stave will be meeting with the web master within the next few weeks to discuss
how to make the Township’s web site more resident friendly to find pending and adopted
ordinances as well as other items. Ms. Stave stated the Township is striving to make
communications more clearly to its residents.

--Members of Committee

Mr. Panconi reported he had his monthly meeting with the Fire Company
last week and they have a new Chief who was not aware of the format that Mr. Panconi
usually needs his information to report to the Township Committee, therefore, Mr. Panconi
did not have his chart of fire alarms this month. Mr. Panconi reported there had been 13 calls
for the month of December, four (4) of the calls were during the day and of those four (4) calls, one Public Works employee had made four (4) of the calls and the other employee had
made three (3) of the four (4) calls. Nine calls were during the weekend and in the evening.

Five (5) of the calls were alarm calls. Mr. Panconi reported he did not have a breakdown if
any of the alarm calls were false alarm calls. For 2008 the Fire Department had a total of 219 calls.

Mr. Stannard reported he had his monthly meeting with Police Chief Edward Kahler.
They discussed a number of investigations that are going on. Chief Kahler discussed his
needs and wants for the 2009 Budget. Chief Kahler is well-prepared for the Budget hearings.
Mr. Stannard commended Chief Kahler for keeping the Township Committee updated on
various items.
...

Reports from Township Staff and Professionals

Monthly Report from Police Chief Edward Kahler

Chief Kahler reported total summonses was 131; cell phone violations: 8, DWI: 7, Speeding:
11. Expenditures, highest to lowest: Shift Coverage, Training and Shift Extensions. Chief Kahler
gave the following “Report by Bureau”: Traffic Bureau: In December, the Traffic Bureau
conducted numerous intoxicated driving patrols. The patrols netted four (4) intoxicated drivers.
The patrols were paid for using grant funds from the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety.

Detective Bureau: The Detective Bureau reported it has made progress with two (2) drug cases
and a theft case. All three (3) cases are still active. Fourteen new investigations were initiated in
December. Six (6) of the new investigations were closed by the end of the month. CERT: A
year-end meeting was conducted on December 9, 2008. The CERT team discussed their goals
for 2009. It was suggested that the CERT team prepare shelters and participate in more drills.
Chief Kahler reported the Bicycle Patrol had not been out at all during the month of December.
Chief Kahler reported the following statistics for 2008: Investigations: 169, MV crashes: 244,
Arrests: 145, Intoxicated Drivers: 39 and Summonses: 2,548. Bicycle Patrols: Over 50 (when a
pair or group of officers are on bicycle patrol, only one report is filed). Mr. Stout asked if seven
(7) D.W.I. arrests was a large number. Chief Kahler responded it is high and the arrests mainly
occurred on Route 130 and Old Trenton Road. He attributed the high number to Holiday parties.
Mayor Stave asked why the overtime appeared to be the highest in September. Chief Kahler
reported it was due to Training and is usually high in September. Mr. Cody asked if the Traffic
Officers do more than just traffic as he noticed a low number for the month of December for
summonses. Chief Kahler responded the officers also have to backup the other officers. Mr.
Cody asked how long the radar is performed by the police officers. Chief Kahler explained that
there usually is a radar car positioned with an officer in it, however, a lot of time is spent out at the
warehouses checking on vehicles that transport the employees to and from work as in a lot of
instances, and those vehicles are not in conformance to State regulations.

Reports from Township Staff and Professionals

Ms. Smeltzer indicated she would be discussing with the Township Committee later on in the
meeting the schedule for upcoming Budget Meetings.

Reports from Township Boards and Commissions

Ms. Kirstie Venanzi, President of the Library Board of Trustees, reported the Library will start
“reconfiguring” the Library. The Library will be closed on Thursday, January 15, 2009, Saturday,
January 17, 2009, Monday, January 19, 2009, Saturday, January 24, 2009, Monday, January 25,
2009 and Monday, January 26, 2009. During this time the School Library will not be open. In
addition, Mr. John Haney, School Administrator and Principal, has announced that school
students may not be picked up from the Library during this time, as the safety of the students is a
priority during the reconfiguration. Ms. Venanzi reported the Library Board of Trustees and the
School Board are continuing to work on a lease agreement with the School Board. Currently, the
“sticking point” is the issue of insurance for the Library. Ms. Stave asked the terms of any
monetary amount. Ms. Venanzi indicated there is a monetary amount the Library must pay the
school; $58,000 for the year. Ms. Venanzi requested the closings be posted on the Township’s
web site.

Updates on Township Projects

Ms. Smeltzer, Township Administrator, reported currently the Township covers the Library for
Workers Compensation for its employees. The reason they are not covered for other items is due
to the fact that they are on the School’s property. Ms. Stave suggested the Township’s Attorney
take a look at the proposed lease just to have another “set of eyes”. Mr. Stannard added, anyone
that serves as a volunteer on the Library Board and any other Board, should have an “umbrella
policy” on their homeowner’s policy to make sure if they are sued that it covers service as a
volunteer or officer.

Ms. Smeltzer reported the Township’s Fair Share and Housing Plan had been delivered on
December 31, 2008 by the Township’s COAH Consultant, Ms. Mary Beth Lonergan.

Ms. Smeltzer reported the Township’s Traffic Consultant, Andrew Feranda, is presently
reviewing Dr. Alexander’s parking space issue and will report to the Township Committee at the
January 26th Township Committee.

Ms. Smeltzer reported on the Regulation Ball Field: At this point in time the Township is
working with the Township Attorney and Jeff Graydon, Zoning Officer is contributing his expertise
in working with Hatch Mott MacDonald to discuss creating a final punch list for the contractor. Mr.
Cody asked if the contractor has been paid in full. Ms. Smeltzer explained the contractor has a
very substantial Performance Bond being held by the Township until the contractor satisfies the
Township’s requirements for the field.

Ms. Smeltzer reported she had sent to Comcast and the Office of Cable Television a draft
ordinance. The last time she had spoken with the Office of Cable Television, they indicated to
wait one month for Comcast to respond. Ms. Smeltzer expects to get some comments from the
Board of Public Utilities and Comcast. She reported she has not heard from either.

Ms. Smeltzer reported Ms. Waterbury, Esquire, Township Attorney and Cathleen Marcelli,
Township Engineer, as finalizing an agreement with the County for the Brainerd Lake Dam.

Ms. Smeltzer reported the Township has been requested by the County Planning Director to
help the County with the Federal Stimulus Package, for what projects the stimulus package could
cover. Brainerd Lake Dam would be one item, green energy; all of the Township’s Public
buildings would have solar panels, Plainsboro Road improvements and the Liberty Way Bridge.

Work Session

a). Discussion of 2009 Liaison Assignments by Township Committee
...
Mayor Stave led the discussion concerning the schedule for the next Budget Meeting. A decision
was made to meet on Monday, January 19, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. in the Township Meeting Room.
Mr. Stout recommended the meeting only be for three (3) hours and end at 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Cody stated he had obtained information on the digital camera system for the police cars and
found the system can be purchased cheaper than the price the police quoted in their budget.

On motion by Mr. Stout, seconded by Mr. Stannard and unanimously carried, the meeting
adjourned at 8:45 p.m. "

http://www.cranburytownship.org/TC_minutes011209.pdf