STANHOPE BOROUGH MAYOR & COUNCIL
WORK SESSION AND AGENDA MEETING
January 10, 2023
7:00 P.M.
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CALL TO ORDER
SALUTE TO COLORS
Mayor Zdichocki invited all those present to stand in a salute to the colors.
MAYOR’S STATEMENT AS TO COMPLIANCE WITH P.L. 1975
Adequate Notice of this Meeting has been provided according to the Open Public Meetings Act, Assembly Bill 1030. Notice of this Meeting was included in the Annual Meeting Notice sent to the New Jersey Herald and the Daily Record on January 4, 2023 and was placed on the Official Bulletin Board in the Municipal Building and on the official website of the Borough of Stanhope.
In the event the Mayor and Council have not addressed all items on this Agenda by 10:00 PM and they are of the opinion that they cannot complete the Agenda in a reasonable time period, the Mayor and Council may exercise their option to continue this meeting at an agreed to date, time and place. Please turn off all cell phones for the duration of this Meeting.
ROLL CALL
Council Members:
Councilwoman Kuncken – present
Councilman Thornton – present
Councilman Riccardi – present
Councilman Vance – present
Councilman Romano – present
Councilman Wronko – present
Mayor Zdichocki – present
ENGINEER’S REPORT
Valley Road and Delaware Avenue Local Aid Project – Borough Engineer, Eric Keller, stated construction on the sidewalks and the ADA ramps for Valley Road and Delaware Avenue finally started on Monday, December 12, 2022. A walk through was done and the sidewalk limits were marked out on Friday, December 9, 2022. The work was substantially completed on Thursday, January 5, 2023. The contractor stated he would return in the spring to seed, fertilize and mulch the disturbed areas. Mr. Keller stated, at that time, the sidewalks will be examined to determine if any repairs are needed due to the late start and colder weather conditions. The governing body awarded the contract at the end of September. The contract was then sent to the contractor who was asked to submit the performance bond, insurance and other paperwork. The contractor finally satisfactorily delivered the paperwork by the beginning of December after much back and forth between Mr. Keller’s office, the Borough Attorney’s office and the Clerk’s office. This caused the project to have a late start of December 12th. Mr. Keller stated he has spoken with Denville Line Painting who is the contractor from the co-op for striping. At this time of year, Denville Line Painting is shut down. In hindsight, perhaps the center lines and stop bars should have been painted ahead of time but it was never expected that the sidewalk contractor would take so long to get the paperwork in order to begin the project. A change order is needed due to the fact the as built quantities are greater than the contract, but the overall cost remains well below the engineer’s estimate. The pay recommendation and change order will be prepared for the governing body’s action at the January 24th meeting.
Sparta Road TAP Grant – Mr. Keller stated all of the punch list items for the Sparta Road TAP Grant have been completed. Some striping needs to be replaced that was damaged during the infrared pavement restoration. The Borough sign has been removed and it is being refurbished and repaired. The sign will not be reinstalled until it has the proper gold leaf color on the lettering. Mr. Keller stated he is working with GPI and the NJDOT to close out all of the paperwork for this grant.
Infrared Pavement Restoration – Mr. Keller stated Atlantic Infra was able to complete the necessary pavement restoration on Sparta Road but due to weather conditions, they were unable to undertake the restoration on Dell Road and Valley Road. They will return in the spring when the temperatures increase to complete this work.
Sunset Avenue/ Ridge Road/ Overhill Road Water Main Replacement – Mr. Keller reported the design services for the Sunset Avenue/ Ridge Road and Overhill Road Water Main Replacement project are continuing and they are working with the Borough’s DPW on the individual service connections. The DPW Superintendent has provided the locations of the meters and service lines for all of the affected homes except for approximately 10 homes. A decision is needed from the governing body on the cost to replace the service lines from the curb box to the meter. This is being included within the contract scope but it will be a separate construction item. Mr. Keller stated he is also coordinating with the Administrator and CFO on the grant administration aspects of the project.
Stanhope School Crossing Study – Mr. Keller stated he is working on scheduling a meeting with the Valley Road School Superintendent to discuss the School Crossing Study. The traffic counts have been analyzed along with the gap data which was collected. We now have an understanding of the base traffic data, both vehicular and pedestrian. This needs to be coordinated with the school’s policies and procedures to develop an overall assessment of each location.
2023 Capital Program – Mr. Keller stated the FY2022 Local Aid Grant was awarded by the NJDOT for Spencer Street and Sagamore Road in the amount of $141,000.00. This project will consist of milling, resurfacing and curb repairs. The budget includes the costs for the inlet inserts along the road to have the proper echo castings. The updated estimate for this work, based upon 2023 County Cooperative unit prices is $137,803.05, with a couple of items being handled by the Borough’s DPW. The estimate is just below the grant amount. Hopefully this project will have a nominal cost to the Borough. The contractor with the co-op is Schiffano.
Mr. Keller stated the other scheduled capital project for 2023 is the milling and resurfacing of Lenape Drive, Woods Avenue and Lepont Street. This project will also include curb repairs and inlet castings in order to be compliant with the stormwater permit requirements. Based upon the 2023 County Cooperative unit prices, the engineer’s estimate for this project, with contingencies, is $125,557.41.
Councilwoman Kuncken stated the inspector from Bowman who worked on the Valley Road project was very good and handled the questions from the public very well and he was very polite. Mr. Keller stated he will share this information with the inspector.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
NJ Natural Gas – Administrator McNeilly stated he attended a meeting hosted by Superintendent Steve Hagemann at Stanhope School to discuss the challenges of the current NJ Natural Gas detour plan. Communication was a key part of the discussion. An engineer from NJ Natural Gas was also in attendance. Administrator McNeilly stated on Friday afternoons he is receiving the upcoming weeks work schedule for NJ Natural Gas. The community notifications are then sent out on Sunday to prepare for the work week. If the schedule is changed for some reason, such as weather, another message is not sent out. At the meeting, it was reiterated that this is a NJ Natural Gas project taking place on a County road and the detour plan is set by Sussex County. Residents are still encouraged to access the NJ Natural Gas website www.njng.com/constructiononyourstreet for updates. Beginning this week, there will be multiple crews working. NJ Natural gas has moved onto Linden Avenue and Church Street and they continue to make slow progress east on Brooklyn Road. Eventually, there will be another crew working at the orange bridge who will be doing a directional bore on the south side of the river.
Annual Insurance Certification Requests – Administrator McNeilly stated he has received and processed 12 insurance certifications for the Borough’s departments for 2022. Both Fire Academy’s have received use agreements as well.
Hepatitis B Vaccine – Administrator McNeilly stated arrangements have been made with Sussex County to once again provide the first responders with the opportunity to get the required Hepatitis B Vaccine shots.
DCA Local Recreation Improvement Grant Program FY2023 – Administrator McNeilly stated the DCA has a grant opportunity available for recreation improvement. He is working with the grant writers to put together an application for equipment improvement for the Dell Road playground. The current equipment located at the park is approximately 25 years old. The grant request amount can be up to $100,000.00 with a local contribution of $10,000.00. Trust money is available which can be used for this contribution. The grant cycle is short and the application is due by January 20th. The basic information can be submitted which provides proof that the Borough owns the property, the deed and the Mayor’s letter of intent. The resolution which is being prepared for the January 24th meeting agenda can be submitted after January 20th.
Highpoint Condominium Association – Administrator McNeilly stated he has received notification that Highpoint has a new management company. Taylor Management is the new company as of January 1, 2023.
Contracts / Agreements Ending 2023 – Administrator McNeilly stated the garbage and recycling contracts will be ending on May 31, 2023. The bid paperwork will be prepared by the Borough Attorney and the process will begin in February. The Sparta Communication Dispatch agreement ends on December 31, 2023. The Stanhope Netcong OEM Agreement ends on December 31, 2023. Councilwoman Kuncken stated if the Borough wants to withdraw from Sparta Dispatch, notice must be given 120 days in advance.
Budget and Capital 2023 – Administrator McNeilly stated a meeting time needs to be scheduled to discuss the budget and capital for 2023. Mayor Zdichocki stated the budget discussion will take place at the next Mayor and Council meeting scheduled for January 24th and the meeting will begin at 6:00pm.
Street Light Sparta Road – Mayor Zdichocki asked Administrator McNeilly for an update on the street light replacement for Sparta Road which was damaged by a vehicle. Administrator McNeilly stated the light is on order and our insurance check was just received. A letter was received from the driver’s car insurance stating there are too many entities vying for a small pot of money. This is a standard letter.
Speed Limit Sign on Sparta Road – Mayor Zdichocki asked Administrator McNeilly if the speed limit sign on Sparta Road has been repaired. Administrator McNeilly stated the sign has not been repaired to date. He will follow up on the issue.
Federal Water Project Grant – Councilman Wronko asked Administrator McNeilly for an update on the Federal Water Grant. Administrator McNeilly stated he and Mr. Keller have attended a few seminars and this process makes the TAP Grant look like it was nothing. A proposal is being prepared to request that a grant administrator be hired for this project. For a small staffed office, this is a very time-consuming procedure. Administrator McNeilly stated he is checking with other municipalities to see who they use for projects such as this and he will also consult with Millennium Strategies. Mayor Zdichocki stated the amount of funding being awarded through the grant will cover the project and the hiring of a grant manager. Administrator McNeilly stated with the TAP Grant there was a representative from the DOT who worked closely with the Borough and he had enough experience to guide us like a grant manager. The Federal Grant is much more involved and other than a few seminars, there is no assistance available. A resolution will be prepared for the governing body’s consideration. This will take place at the last meeting in January or the first meeting in February. Councilman Riccardi asked what the responsibilities for the third-party manager would entail. Administrator McNeilly stated a whole manual has to be created and all the certifications have to be documented. There will be a great deal of steel used in this project which has to be recorded and certified. Councilwoman Kuncken stated it seems when the federal government funds are being awarded, they make it so difficult that you almost want to say no thank you.
Resident/Business Owner Complaint NJ Natural Gas – Councilman Thornton stated on December 20th the governing body received an email from a resident/business owner expressing a fair amount of frustration over the communications regarding the closures of the roads for the gas project. Councilman Thornton asked if a response was provided to this complaint. Administrator McNeilly stated the resident attended the same meeting at the Stanhope School which Administrator McNeilly attended. Administrator McNeilly stated he did email the person back and there were phone messages back and forth. Councilman Thornton stated the gentleman was frustrated with not being able to get to the school for drop off and activities. Administrator McNeilly confirmed the resident in question has been contacted. Councilman Thornton stated there seems to be conflicting information as to whether or not all residents in Stanhope will have access to natural gas in the future and he asked for clarification. Mayor Zdichocki stated it was her understanding that NJ Natural Gas was going to send out letters of intent to the residents in December, but that did not occur. Administrator McNeilly stated, at the Superintendent’s meeting, the discussion went through access and communication. There are many rumors going through the Borough regarding the gas lines. This is not a Borough project and as such it has been very difficult to obtain information. Administrator McNeilly received a one-page list of information from NJ Natural Gas approximately two weeks ago which pretty much tells Stanhope residents they will be getting natural gas and this was reiterated at the meeting. Byram Township is first, Stanhope Borough is second and Hopatcong Borough is third. For the people who live on Brooklyn Road, they will have the opportunity to connect to natural gas very quickly. The gas line and stubs for the side streets have to be completed because the County will be paving Brooklyn Road from the town line in Hopatcong to Route 183. Once Brooklyn Road is paved, there is a five-year moratorium on being able to open the road for anything other than an emergency repair. Brooklyn Road residents will receive their own marketing piece. As for the rest of the Borough, letters of intent will be sent out and residents will have to respond. If a street with ten houses only has one resident that is interested in natural gas, there is the possibility that NJ Natural Gas would not run the line for just one house. When it is time for the residents to respond, there will be letters sent, lawn signs posted and information posted on social media and the website. Councilman Thornton asked if the information sheet has been shared. Administrator McNeilly stated the information sheet has been shared on social media and it is on the Borough’s website. Councilwoman Kuncken stated there are still so many unanswered questions which the residents need answered such as; the cost to have lines run to their homes, how many appliances have to be converted to gas and can they convert to propane in the meantime if they do have to replace appliances now. Mayor Zdichocki suggested having a representative from NJ Natural Gas come to a Borough meeting in order for residents to be able to ask their questions. Administrator McNeilly stated this has been a very frustrating process.
WORK SESSION
Mayor Zdichocki stated she had no topics for discussion and asked the governing body if they had any issues to discuss. There were none.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Zdichocki offered the following resolutions which were read by title.
Resolution 035-23 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MILLENNIUM STRATEGIES
WHEREAS, the Borough of Stanhope is in need of the services of a grant consulting firm with knowledge of all aspects of the availability of applications for state and federal grants that may be available to the Borough of Stanhope on a competitive basis to assist the Borough in identifying and applying for such grants; and
WHEREAS, the services of a grant consultant constitute extraordinary unspecifiable services pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(ii); and
WHEREAS, Millennium Strategies, LLC has the necessary experience and qualified staff to provide grant consulting services to the Borough on an ongoing basis; and
WHEREAS, Millennium Strategies, LLC has made a written proposal to the Borough of Stanhope to provide grant consultation services; and
WHEREAS, the proposed agreement between the Borough and Millennium Strategies, LLC provides for a retainer of $1,550 per month, which amount is not in excess of the Borough’s bid threshold; and
WHEREAS, said agreement with Millennium Strategies, LLC is terminable at will by the Borough.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope that the Borough does hereby award a contract for extraordinary unspecifiable services to Millennium Strategies, LLC, a copy of which agreement is attached hereto;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Clerk are hereby authorized to execute said agreement on behalf of the Borough.
On motion by Councilman Vance seconded by Councilwoman Kuncken and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, the foregoing resolution was duly adopted.
Roll Call:
Councilwoman Kuncken – yes
Councilman Thornton – yes
Councilman Riccardi – yes
Councilman Vance – yes
Councilman Romano – yes
Councilman Wronko – yes
Resolution 036-23 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BUDGET APPROPRIATION RESERVE TRANSFER BETWEEN
2022 APPROPRIATION RESERVE ACCOUNTS
WHEREAS, certain transfers of funds for various 2022 budget appropriations are necessary to cover anticipated expenditures; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40A:4-59 provides that all unexpended balances carried forward after the close of the year are available, until lapsed at the close of the succeeding year, to meet specific claims, commitments or contracts incurred during the preceding fiscal year, and allows transfers to be made from unexpended balances which are expected to be insufficient during the first three months of the succeeding year;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Borough Council of the Borough of Stanhope that the Chief Financial Officer shall and is hereby authorized to make transfers between appropriation reserve accounts of the 2022 Municipal Budget as follows:
| CURRENT FUND | ||
| FROM | ||
| Group Health Insurance | $1,910.00 | |
| TO | ||
| Group Health Insurance Waiver | $1,910.00 | |
| TOTAL | $1,910.00 | $1,910.00 |
On motion by Councilman Romano seconded by Councilman Wronko and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, the foregoing resolution was duly adopted.
Roll Call:
Councilwoman Kuncken – yes
Councilman Thornton – yes
Councilman Riccardi – yes
Councilman Vance – yes
Councilman Romano – yes
Councilman Wronko – yes
CONSENT AGENDA (All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the Borough Council and were enacted by one motion of the Borough Council with no separate discussion.)
Resolution 037-23 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF STANHOPE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A TAXICAB LICENSE TO STAR LIMO SERVICE LLC
WHEREAS, Chapter 126 of the Stanhope Code of Ordinances requires that anyone operating a taxicab service within the Borough must obtain a license for same; and
WHEREAS, Star Limo Service LLC, operating at 122 Route 183, Stanhope have applied to the Borough Clerk for a taxicab license and have complied with all the provisions of Chapter 126; and
WHEREAS, the following vehicle is to be operated by Nelson Roberto Zuniga within the Borough of Stanhope:
Vehicle #1 – 2009 Honda Odyssey, VIN # 5FNRL38249B033457
WHEREAS, the Municipal Clerk and the Zoning Officer have reviewed said application and recommend approval; and
WHEREAS, said approval is contingent upon receipt by the Borough Clerk of proof of required insurance and payment of all fees;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, that the Borough Clerk is hereby authorized to issue, for the year 2023, said taxicab licenses to operate expiring at midnight December 31, 2023.
Resolution 038-23 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF STANHOPE APPOINTING MUNICIPAL MAGISTRATE
WHEREAS, Judge Gerard F. Smith’s appointment as Judge for the Borough of Stanhope expired December 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope that Gerard F. Smith be appointed as the Municipal Magistrate for the Hopatcong Borough-Stanhope Borough Shared Court;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope does hereby appoint Gerard F. Smith as the Municipal Magistrate for the Hopatcong Borough-Stanhope Borough Shared Court through December 31, 2025.
On motion by Councilman Riccardi, seconded by Councilman Vance and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote, the foregoing resolutions were duly adopted.
Roll Call:
Councilwoman Kuncken – yes
Councilman Thornton – yes
Councilman Riccardi – yes
Councilman Vance – yes
Councilman Romano – yes
Councilman Wronko – yes
Mayor’s Appointment
Resolution 039-23 MAYOR’S APPOINTMENT OF LAURA APONTE AS FINANCE/TAX CLERK WITH COUNCIL CONCURRENCE
Mayor’s appointment of Laura Aponte as Finance/Tax Clerk with Council Concurrence.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Borough of Stanhope that they do hereby concur with the Mayor’s appointment of Laura Aponte as Finance/Tax Clerk, subject to the following terms and conditions:
- The appointment is effective January 17th, 2023.
- The annual salary will be $23,400, to be pro-rated in CY2023.
- Working hours to be a total of 25 hours per week on the following days and times: Monday-Friday 8:30am to 1:30am. Hours may be adjusted by the Chief Financial Officer, as necessary.
On motion by Councilwoman Kuncken, seconded by Councilman Romano and unanimously carried by voice vote, the foregoing resolution was duly adopted.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Resolution 040-23 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF STANHOPE AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILLS
WHEREAS, the Chief Finance Officer has certified that funds are available in the proper account; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Finance Officer has approved payment upon certification from the Borough Department Heads that the goods and/or services have been rendered to the Borough;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope that the current bills list, dated January 10, 2023 and on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Chief Finance Officer and approved by the Chief Finance Officer for payment, be paid.
On motion by Councilman Romano, seconded by Councilman Thornton and unanimously carried by the following roll call vote the foregoing resolution was duly adopted.
Roll Call:
Councilwoman Kuncken – yes
Councilman Thornton – yes
Councilman Riccardi – yes
Councilman Vance – yes
Councilman Romano – yes
Councilman Wronko – yes
AGENDA ITEMS
All items listed on the Agenda for January 24, 2023 were approved.
CITIZEN’S TO BE HEARD
Mayor Zdichocki opened the meeting to the public after advising attendees that there is a five (5) minute time limit for each speaker.
Craig Sanborn, 13 Maryann Terrace, stated he is the newly elected President of the Lakeland Little League and he is here this evening with several other board representatives from the league. Mr. Sanborn stated this is his second term with the little league. He has an older son who went through the program several years ago. Back then the organization was in wonderful shape. We had built new dugouts; backstops and the fields were in great shape. The league used to host All-Star tournament games. Maintenance is now a huge issue. The league owns the fields and work is being done by volunteers/parents. The Borough currently provides a $15 stipend for each Stanhope child registered in the program for baseball or softball. There is a maximum budget of $2,000. Mr. Sanborn stated to his knowledge that maximum has never been met. The Little League asked if it would be possible for a one-time opportunity to be paid the budgeted amount of $2,000. Post Covid an entire season was lost. Two of the scoreboards are in disrepair and to replace the mother boards would cost $2,000 each. It may be a better decision to replace the scoreboards entirely. The hot water heater is no longer functioning and the minors field B is not in playable condition. The softball batting cage needs a new net and some of the poles were damaged when a tree fell on them. Mr. Sanborn stated the registration period begins this week. If the league could receive the full budget, it would help to kick start some of the projects. Fundraising efforts are planned which will be done with their gaming license, which has to be renewed. The league used to conduct raffles and the season would end with the league being in good shape. Mr. Sanborn stated they came here tonight so the governing body could meet the new representatives for the league. He also stated he has met several of the governing body members over the years at the ball field.
Councilwoman Kuncken stated it was a good idea to attend this evening and make them aware of the issues. Mayor Zdichocki stated the governing body understands this is a difficult time and the request will be considered carefully. Perhaps a one-time fee could be made or maybe the $15 fee per child could be increased. Councilwoman Kuncken stated a decision cannot be made this evening unfortunately. Budget discussions are currently being undertaken and the timing of the league’s request is good. Councilman Romano stated he has an interest in the Little League due to the fact his father put up the money for the field some fifty years ago. Councilman Romano is of the opinion a one-time payment might be acceptable, however, the fee per child needs to remain in place. There are other groups with similar arrangements. Councilman Romano asked if the league would be able to pledge to match whatever amount the governing body may agree to provide. Mr. Sanborn stated he is not sure that would be possible this year. Every dime that comes in goes back in to maintaining the grounds, uniforms and the umpire costs which have increased significantly. The league does not have a lawn service. A volunteer goes over every week to maintain the grass and do the weed whacking. Administrator McNeilly stated the program is for Stanhope and Netcong children and he asked if Netcong has been contacted. Mr. Sanborn stated they will be meeting with Netcong at their mayor and council meeting this Thursday. Mr. Sanborn stated currently Netcong pays $7 per child. This fee has not changed in the 18 years Mr. Sanborn has been involved in the program. Mayor Zdichocki suggested the league contact the Rotary for assistance and a flyer could be created to insert in with the water bills asking for volunteers. Administrator McNeilly asked if any arrangement has been made with NJ Natural Gas due to the fact they are utilizing the leagues property during construction. Mr. Sanborn stated he only became President on January 4th and the previous President apparently made some type of arrangement with NJ Natural Gas to spread QP and compact the parking lot. If the gas company’s project is not done until the little league season is over, their equipment will still be stored on the property and the parking lot will not be done until the season is over. Administrator McNeilly suggested the league get a more formalized agreement in place and asked what Salmon Brothers provided to the league when they had their equipment stored there for the year. Mr. Sanborn stated the league purchased clay last year and he believes Salmon Brothers used their equipment to distribute the clay.
Councilman Wronko asked what the registration fees are to join the league. Mr. Sanborn stated T-Ball $100; Coach Pitch $110; Majors & Minors $125 ages 9-12; and $135 ages 13-15. Councilman Wronko stated the Borough covers the cost of $15 per child but the costs of the program have increased over the years and those costs are being paid by the parents, but there are still needs to be met. Councilman Wronko stated the parents are doing what they can but some things are outside of their skill set. Mayor Zdichocki stated she recalls last year there were approximately 73 children registered and the Borough’s cost was between $1,100 – $1,200 which was paid at the end of the season. Councilwoman Kuncken suggested that the league let the Borough know the number of registrants as soon as possible. Mr. Sanborn stated registration begins on January 14th and no child is ever turned away even if they sign up later in the season. Administrator McNeilly confirmed there were 70 children registered last year. Four of the registrants were disqualified because they actually resided in Byram Township. Mr. Sanborn stated that does happen occasionally due to the fact Stanhope is a Choice School. Sometimes waivers must be given for students from Byram who attend Stanhope School who want to play ball with their friends. Mr. Sanborn stated overall, we are just looking for some help this year.
Mayor Zdichocki suggested the league place a flyer in with the water/sewer bill mailing asking for volunteers/donations. Administrator McNeilly stated the flyers are printed on a third of a sheet which would have to be done by the league and then brought to the Finance Department. One ream of three-part paper will yield 1,500 copies which is all that is needed. Councilman Thornton asked if the Clerk can help with the gaming license. Mr. Sanborn stated the gaming registration has lapsed and needs to be renewed and asked if the Borough has a copy of the past registration. Ellen Horak, Borough Clerk, stated a copy can be provided and she explained that the registration process to renew the registration has to be done through the state. Mr. Sanborn thanked the governing body. The governing body thanked Mr. Sanborn and the other representatives for attending this evenings meeting.
Nancy Hoyt, 33 Lawrence Avenue, stated the gas company should have informed Borough Hall months ago with regard to what is going on. Calls are being made to Borough Hall and the Police Department and no one knows what is going on. Brooklyn Road has been closed and no work is being done from Central Avenue to Sparta Road. Why can’t that section of the road be open? Administrator McNeilly stated Mrs. Hoyt should bring her complaint to the Sussex County Board of Commissioners. Mrs. Hoyt stated the Borough should be addressing the problem on behalf of the residents. Administrator McNeilly stated the reason the road is closed, is due to the fact that in order to have work done on a County road, a full closure has to take effect. There is nothing anyone in Stanhope can do to change that. That is the process. Much discussion took place regarding everyone’s frustration over the situation. Administrator McNeilly stated he receives the closure information on Friday afternoon and the Nixle messages are sent out on Sunday evening. When the Borough streets will be under construction, the permit process will be very specific and there is a requirement that all abutting property owners be notified. Mrs. Hoyt asked if the police officers, who are sitting at the construction locations, could call Borough Hall to report what roads are closed and then a Nixle could be sent out. The officers, who can be from Netcong, Hopatcong, Stanhope, Byram, or Mt. Arlington are hired by the contractor, Gray Supply, to sit there. Their job is to block the road. Depending on weather conditions, it may take until April or May to get to Sparta Road. Then comes the next section of road closures. Mayor Zdichocki stated the Borough will continue to try and obtain information. Once the project involves the local streets, the Borough will have some control.
Rosemarie Maio, 31 Maple Terrace, stated the repair work that is being done by NJ Natural Gas is pretty shotty. McKinley Avenue is not in very good condition. The Borough is budgeting and applying and Local Aid Grants to pave Borough roads. Administrator McNeilly stated this work right now is being done under winter conditions. The gas company will have to come back and make additional repairs in the spring. When other roads in the Borough have gas lines installed and the repairs are made, you will be able to see where the gas lines were run for a very long time. That is the price to be paid for getting gas lines. Ms. Maio stated, as the Little League Representatives were told, the gas company needs us as much as we need them, and they should be held accountable. Administrator McNeilly stated right now we will only get trench repair. The Borough will also have to follow the five-year moratorium on opening streets when the time comes. Ms. Maio stated a good portion of her lawn has been torn up and she will be contacting the gas company in the spring.
Billy Eaves, 8 Lloyd Avenue, thanked Administrator McNeilly for all the work he has put forth for the gas project. At this point we are back peddling on the Brooklyn Road situation and doing the best we can. The phase two portion of the project, on Stanhope Sparta Road, will need to be more pro-active. Mr. Eaves stated he is willing to attend the Sussex County Board of Commissioners meeting. Administrator McNeilly stated the plan is to have more of a police presence. There are businesses such as the gas station and the day care where access to and from has to be available. There will be specific concerns to address at Canfield Street and Lloyd Avenue. Much discussion took place regarding this area.
Craig Sanborn asked Administrator McNeilly who the project manager is that he should speak with. Administrator McNeilly suggested Mr. Sanborn find out who the previous Little League representative spoke with and then let Administrator McNeilly know and he will make sure Mr. Sanborn is being properly directed.
Mayor Zdichocki stated the she and the governing body do appreciate the residents taking time to come to tonight’s meeting and voicing their concerns.
Seeing no one further from the public wishing to speak, Mayor Zdichocki closed the public portion of the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilwoman Kuncken, seconded by Councilman Wronko and unanimously carried by voice vote the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.
Approved:
Linda Chirip
Deputy Clerk for
Ellen Horak, RMC
Borough Clerk