AGENDA TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 2009 6:00 P.M.

[Guest]

AGENDA TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 2009 6:00 P.M.

1. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Open Public Meetings Act Notice

3. Roll Call

4. Closed Session – Resolution # R 07-09-092

"NJSA 10:4-12b(5) / Matters involving the potential purchase of real property with public funds: Discussion of right of first refusal with respect to certain property"
"NJSA 10:4-12b(6) / Tactics and techniques utilized in protecting the safety and property of the public and investigations of violations or possible violations of the law: Review of pending enforcement and potential enforcement actions related to zoning violations"
"NJSA 10:4-12b(7) / Pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation and matters falling within the attorney-client privilege: Review of proposed options for resolving outstanding items stemming from the acquisition of 'Wright South' and use of escrow monies for same."

5. Regular Committee Minutes of June 22, 2009
Closed Session Minutes of June 22, 2009

6. Reports and Communications
--Mayor
--Members of Committee
--Subcommittees

7. Agenda Additions/Changes

8. Ordinances

First Reading

CRANBURY TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE 07-09-11 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF CRANBURY, IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, REGULATING THE STOPPING AND STANDING OF VEHICLES AT CERTAIN DESIGNATED SECTIONS OF LIBERTY WAY AND HALF ACRE ROAD (Second Reading, July 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.).

CRANBURY TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE 07-09-12 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF CRANBURY IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, REGULATING THE STOPPING OR STANDING OF VEHICLES AT CERTAIN DESIGNATED SECTIONS OF COUNTY ROUTE 614/PROSPECT PLAINS ROAD; COUNTY ROUTE 535/SOUTH RIVER ROAD; AND
COUNTY ROUTE 615/STATION ROAD (Second Reading, July 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.).

CRANBURY TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE 07-09-13 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF CRANBURY IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY AMENDING CHAPTER 130, “STREETS & SIDEWALKS,” TO ADD NEW ARTICLE V THERETO CONCERNING CERTAIN TRAFFIC CONTROLS FOR STREET AND SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE (Second Reading, July 27, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.).

9. Resolutions
Consent Agenda
a). Resolution # R 07-09-087 Payment of Bills.
b). Resolution # R 07-09-088 – Resolution authorizing the release of a Performance Guarantee for the Blue Rooster (Block, 23, Lot 109).
c). Resolution # R 07-09-089 – Resolution providing for the insertion of a Special Item of Revenue in the Municipal Budget of the Township of Cranbury pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-87 (Chapter 159, P.L. 1948) for the “Over the Limit Under Arrest” Program.
d). Resolution # R 07-09-090 – Resolution authorizing the execution of an encroachment agreement with Kamlesh and Bina Shah for the installation and operation of a water line within a Township right-of-away along Liberty Way in the Township of Cranbury, State of New Jersey.
e). Resolution # R 07-09-091 – Resolution authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to execute an agreement with Monroe Township to provide sewer service to Cranbury Township.
10. Reports from Township Staff and Professionals
Police Chief Ed Kahler will give his monthly report to the Township Committee.
The Township Administrator, Christine Smeltzer, will give an update on the Cheney and Bauder property issues and other items of interest.

11. Reports from Township Boards and Commissions
Kirstie Venanzi, President, Cranbury Library Board of Trustees and other members of the Library Board will discuss with the Township Committee the PNC Bank building.

12. Work Session
a). Discussion by Michael Brennan on Eagle Scout Award Project Mr. Michael Brennan will present and discuss with the Township Committee his proposed project for his Eagle Scout Award.
b). Presentation by John Ferguson, Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management Mr. John Ferguson, Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management will give a presentation to the Township Committee to report on the County’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan to FEMA.
c). History Narrative on the Regulation Baseball Field Mayor Stave will present a history narrative on the regulation baseball field on the former Wright-South property.

14. Updates on Township Projects

15. Public Comment

16. Mayor’s Notes

17. Adjourn.

***Persons with disabilities requiring assistance, please contact Town Hall 24 hours in advance (609) 395-0900, ext. 234.

http://www.cranburytownship.org/TC_Agenda071309.pdf

[Guest]

Of particular interest is the discussion of PNC bank and the ballfield.

I would encourage all residents who see the rising town costs- sewer, ballfield, and NJ taxes and are concerned about the economy to come out and comment against the PNC bank building purchase. Our sewers are going up 3x and we cannot afford massive purchases that will further raise our taxes or many residents will be priced out of their homes. We have the dam and liberty way projects, plus COAH on the horizon, in essence we're facing massive tax bills because of the way our town and state have been run and we need to stand up or be forced to act like a checking account. We have two candidates who oppose spending in Mr. Taylor and Mulligan and two who want to make the purchase with Mr. Cook and Johnson.

I would encourage the same residents to come out and request that our ballfield be deemed completed and that we not pursue the other items such as bleachers, signs, dugouts unless a grant or fundraising becomes available. No more spending regardless of how good a spin is put on these items.

[Guest]

I would agree. I cannot believe that at this point in time with this economy that the board of trustees of the library would pursue this ridiculous purchase.

[Guest]

[Soccer Fan]

How about changing the name again from

"Regulation Baseball Field"

to

"Regulation Soccer Field"

[Guest]

[PNC Purchase]

On the agenda tonight

"Kirstie Venanzi, President, Cranbury Library Board of Trustees and other members of the Library Board will discuss with the Township Committee the PNC Bank building."

[Guest]

I spoke with a pro-stand alone library person (non-affiliated) and he stated that he was asked to attend and support the purchase tonight by a few pro-library people. If you care about taxes and spending please show up as the library I believe will have a lot of pro-purchase people in the audience.

[Guest]

They did have more pro-stand-alone library people in the audience, but as we all know, the audiences for these meetings are definitely increased by people making calls to get out their side. The pro-stand-alone library people had more notice that this meeting was happening than the other side that doesn't want to spend more money at this time on this project.

One good suggestion was to bring it on a referendum to the voters.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I am very disappointed about missing the meeting. I have so many questions.

By any chance, did anyone share expense projections? It is hard to say if you are "for" or "against" the PNC purchase/library conversion without knowing a rough impact on taxes per household. My guess is the PNC purchase will result in a roughly 2% - 5% tax increase, depending on how the renovations are funded.

That would be easier to take if it weren't for the 25% increase in the last couple years (including the sewerage increase) and the devestating impact of the economy on so many Cranbury residents. Not to mention the potential impending doom of another 4 years of Corzine.

[Guest]

[Guest]

It doesn't hurt to make the call.

However, a few points.

As one who received a phone call, I can tell you the library and people who were pro-stand alone library were making calls and emails to show support. I did not receive one call anti-stand alone and I am not pro-stand alone. So if they called me I can only assume others were contacted as well. There is nothing wrong with that approach .

Getting a stand alone library should be a project down the road, but it is not if they purchase the PNC building and they certainly want to do that.

There were no cost projections made, there were no costs shared, they said we have the money to do renovations, but never stated what those renovations were or what the costs were. That is the biggest concern, how do we know they have enough?

I am concerned about the past tax rate increases, plus the sewer rate increase, plus liberty way, plus the dam, plus COAH, plus state mandates not yet implemented. The library increase and there will be (there are always construction over runs) is something that comes on top and is really a non-required expense.

No business is going to remove that town parking. They want people to have to park by their business and towing would alienate customers. So the parking is a non-issue.

The preservation is a non-issue. We have HPAC which insures the building's outside appearance has no material change.

A new building or PNC will attract the same number of people to main st of that I am certain. If people are going to a library and decide to go to Gil and Berts the same will apply regardless of being slightly set back off Main St. vs PNC. It's a similar distance to having lunch at Blue Rooster and going for Ice Cream.

[Guest]

I think it is a breach of the board of trustees fiduciary duty to propose this without having done the cost analysis. They say they have the money to do the renovations, but don't provide evidence or estimates????? The library has approximately $600k in the bank - the lowest ballpark "estimate" was around $1million. And as Wayne Wittman pointed out last night, there are some major issues with the building (oil tank underneath, etc.) Plus you never know what you will find in an old building when you start renovating it.

Plus, what are the operating costs? And then figure that any estimate of the costs, increase it because no government agency or project ever comes in on budget!

[Guest]

Agree. Their statements were we need to have discussion with PNC first on what the price will be before we can tell you what the other costs are. I disagree. Any home I bought I always walked through and then sat down and said it needs A, B, C and that will cost me X, Y, Z. Then I decide to have a discussion.

If they don't show a cost estimate or low ball and end up not having the funds to do the renovations or operate then even if the library is donated we will have a tax increase. They should have come in and said this is what we estimate the monthly utilities to be, this is our insurance costs, this is our maintenance cost, the oil tank is X to remedy, the new heating system is Y, the structural work we estimate at Z, a new roof is XX, moving costs are X, etc.... then we go from there.

[Guest]

How can you do a full cost analysis unless you know the price? They are only asking to have more information....