MAYOR AND COUNCIL
WORK SESSION AND AGENDA MEETING MINUTES
October 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 – absent
Councilman Wachterhauser – present
Councilman Romano – present
Councilman Wronko – present
Mayor Zdichocki – present
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
DPW – Administrator McNeilly stated the DPW has begun leaf pickup for Route 1.
Halloween Parade – Administrator McNeilly stated the Recreation Commission has submitted their annual request to have the Halloween Parade on October 28th. The temporary road closure of Main Street requires the governing body’s consent. Mayor Zdichocki asked the governing body if there were any objections to closing Main Street temporarily for the Halloween Parade. There were no objections. Approval was granted.
2023 Tax Sale – Administrator McNeilly stated the online tax sale concludes on Thursday, October 19th. Angelica Sabatini, CFO/CTC, will provide a summary of the tax sale for the October 24th Mayor and Council meeting.
Engineer – Administrator McNeilly stated Eric Keller, Borough Engineer, will be attending the October 24th Mayor and Council meeting. Mr. Keller was unable to attend tonight’s meeting due to a conflict.
WORK SESSION
Stanhope Fire Department – Mayor Zdichocki congratulated the Stanhope Fire Department on placing second in the ladder category at the parade which took place this past Saturday.
Ordinance Prohibiting Use of Camper/Recreational Vehicles for Living Purposes – Administrator McNeilly stated a copy of the ordinance was previously sent to the governing body for review and he asked if there were any questions. There are additional changes to be made to Chapter 100. Administrator McNeilly suggested waiting until January to make all the changes at one time. The current issues which prompted the request for the ordinance are being addressed and the colder weather will also eliminate the problem.
Best Practice Checklist – Administrator McNeilly asked the governing body for any questions. Administrator McNeilly explained for Councilman Wachterhauser’s benefit, being new to the governing body, that the Best Practice Checklist started out years ago as a well-intended thing in government. It was a way to guide the municipalities toward better practices. If the municipalities did not follow the practices it would affect the aid the town would receive. The paperwork used to be distributed in April giving the municipalities time to prepare. Then it changed to July and now it is distributed in September/October and it is due by November 6th. The checklist now lists unscored questions which the State uses as a scavenger hunt for different departments in Trenton to develop special projects. It also gives them a window into what municipalities are doing. The results are posted online and there are towns that are saying they are scoring 100% but that is hard to believe in some cases. Administrator McNeilly stated the Borough’s scores are legitimate. The
threshold is 43% and the Borough is at 70%. One of the requirements is to discuss the checklist at a Mayor and Council meeting. Now that this has been completed, the Clerk, CFO and the Administrator can sign off on the document. The governing body had no questions.
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 164-23 RESOLUTION – EXEMPT FIREMAN CERTIFICATE RAYMOND I. WEXLER
WHEREAS, the Chief of the Stanhope Borough Fire Department has certified that Raymond I. Wexler, a member of the Stanhope Fire Department, has served the required number of years as an active fireman and is entitled to a certificate of exemption pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-59; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-59 require the Certificate to be duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipality in which the fireman serves, as well as by the Clerk of said municipality; and
WHEREAS, the Borough of Stanhope wishes to duly authorize the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption to Raymond I. Wexler;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, that the Mayor and Clerk be in the same are hereby authorized and directed to duly execute a Certificate of Exemption for Fireman Raymond I. Wexler; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Borough Clerk shall duly file the Certificate of Exemption with the Sussex County Clerk, the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association, the Stanhope Borough Fire Department and Fireman Raymond I. Wexler.
Resolution 165-23 RESOLUTION – EXEMPT FIREMAN CERTIFICATE JONATHAN D. MILLER
WHEREAS, the Chief of the Stanhope Borough Fire Department has certified that Jonathan D. Miller, a member of the Stanhope Fire Department, has served the required number of years as an active fireman and is entitled to a certificate of exemption pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-59; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-59 require the Certificate to be duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipality in which the fireman serves, as well as by the Clerk of said municipality; and
WHEREAS, the Borough of Stanhope wishes to duly authorize the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption to Jonathan D. Miller;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stanhope, County of Sussex, State of New Jersey, that the Mayor and Clerk be in the same are hereby authorized and directed to duly execute a Certificate of Exemption for Fireman Jonathan D. Miller; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Borough Clerk shall duly file the Certificate of Exemption with the Sussex County Clerk, the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association, the Stanhope Borough Fire Department and Fireman Jonathan D. Miller.
On motion by Councilwoman Kuncken, seconded by Councilman Romano and carried by a majority of the following roll call vote, the foregoing resolutions were duly adopted.
Councilwoman Kuncken – yes
Councilman Thornton – yes
Councilman Riccardi – absent
Councilman Wachterhauser – yes
Councilman Romano – yes
Councilman Wronko – abstain
Mayor Zdichocki congratulated Fireman Wexler and Fireman Miller.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Resolution 166-23 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 October 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 – absent
Councilman Wachterhauser – yes
Councilman Romano – yes
Councilman Wronko – yes
AGENDA ITEMS
All items listed on the Agenda for October 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.
Seeing no one from the public wishing to speak, Mayor Zdichocki closed the public portion of the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilman Romano, seconded by Councilman Thornton and unanimously carried by voice vote the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 P.M.
Approved:
Linda Chirip
Deputy Clerk for
Ellen Horak, RMC
Borough Clerk