Offices are closed on Monday, January 20th in recognition of the Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day Holiday.

Our next regular Town Council meeting is Monday, January 27th at 7:00pm.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Morris Lake is 2 inches above the top of the spillway as of January 13, 2020.

Work continues on the 2020 municipal budget. The budget review meeting this year will be held on Saturday, February 8th at 9:00am.

Routine business conducted at the first Planning Board meeting of the month.

Kimberly and I met with the staff at Skylands Stadium to discuss the first Newton Night Out which will be Friday, June 5th at 7:00pm at the stadium. Discounted tickets for Newton residents, giveaways, and more! It should be a fun night for all Newtonians! Mark it down on your calendars now.

Our team met with an interested developer from Lavallette who is looking at investing into certain properties in Newton. We are always happy to meet with new friends to show them the great investment opportunities in our Town.

Almost a dozen potential bidders have picked up bid packets for the Newton Municipal Pool renovation project. Bids are due next Friday.

We have posted for four (4) summer interns on our website. If you know of anyone interested, please have them contact Jennifer Dodd in Human Resources.

Enjoy the great football games this weekend! Be safe.

Yours in Service,
TSRJR

There is a volunteer interview scheduled for this Monday, January 13, 2020 beginning at 6:45pm and our Town Council meeting will immediately follow at 7:00pm.  The volunteer application has been shared on the Google Drive.  

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Lorraine’s office has prepared the minutes from the December 23, 2019 Regular meeting for your consideration and approval.

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY

The Mayor will swear-in the Fire Department’s 2020 officers.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This is for those that wish to address the Town Council but do not plan on staying for the whole meeting.  There is a note to the public on the agenda to please keep their comments to a maximum of 5 minutes and limited to one turn at the microphone.  This allows ample time for all whom wish to speak and keeps the meeting moving forward.  The public can speak on any matter. Council may choose to comment after the entire public portion has concluded.

COUNCIL & MANAGER REPORTS

Each Councilmember can give an update on various items or Board/Commission actions that have taken place recently.

ORDINANCES

There are two ordinances for introduction:

Ordinance 2020-1 will authorize appropriating $450,000 from the Capital Reserve for the Grit Collector replacement.

Ordinance 2020-2 will adopt the amendment to the Paterson Avenue Redevelopment Plan.

OLD BUSINESS

CONSENT AGENDA

Resolution #46-2020* will authorize using the competitive contracting process for a management concession vendor for the pool.

Resolution #47-2020* will award the contract for an insurance broker for employee benefits to Acrisure.

Resolution #48-2020* will amend the temporary water and sewer capital budget.  This is done in conjunction with Ordinance 2020-2 above.

Resolution #49-2020* supports the 2020 US Census.

Resolution #50-2020* authorizes the redemption of a Town held lien for 10 Center Street.

Resolution #51-2020* will approve bills and vouchers for payment.

Application(s)* there are three applications for your consideration:

1. A membership application from Jonathan C. Renzo, 176 County Road 519, Newton, NJ, into the Newton Fire Department.
2. A membership application from John H. Ays, 9 Barrett Avenue, Newton, NJ, into the Newton Fire Department.
3. A membership application for a Junior Firefighter, Christian Blakely, 61 Paterson Avenue, Newton, NJ, into the Newton Fire Department.

APPEAL

There is one UAB appeal to be heard regarding 100 Swartswood Avenue.

DISCUSSION

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

COUNCIL & MANAGER COMMENTS

EXECUTIVE SESSION

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Morris Lake is 2 inches above the top of the spillway as of January 6, 2020.  

Congratulations to Sherri Kaylani on becoming our new Recreation Supervisor effective Monday.  She will still be involved in Code Enforcement activities as well.

Also joining us in March will be Gigi Regolizio as our new Recreation Coordinator.  She will work to support Sherri and the activities in our expanding Recreation Department.  We look forward to a very busy and successful year!

Several of us attended a ceremony at SCCC in support of their purchase of the McGuire’s Chevrolet property.  We have a meeting coming in the next few weeks so we can start to plan the exciting new redevelopment of this area.

We had a meeting this week to discuss final punch list items for the Firehouse 2 project.  We anticipate moving in by the end of this month.

We have posted for four (4) summer interns on our website.  If you know of any high school or college students that are interested, please have them contact Jennifer Dodd in Human Resources.

Yours in Service,

TSRJR

REORGANIZATION MEETING

I will briefly review the items on the Reorganization Meeting agenda for you for Tuesday, January 7^th at 7:00pm.

DESIGNATION OF TEMPORARY MAYOR

The first order of business is the Council will designate a temporary chairperson to oversee the meeting.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION OF MAYOR

Sanford L. Hollander, Esq., will swear-in the new Mayor.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR

Lorraine A. Read, RMC, will swear-in the new Deputy Mayor.  

COMMENTS BY TOWN MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, DEPUTY MAYOR, AND MAYOR

CONSENT AGENDA

Resolution #1-2020* will designate banks to be used as depositories of municipal funds.

Resolution #2-2020* will appoint the Town Manager as hearing officer on all matters of dispute for the Town for 2020.

Resolution #3-2020* will designate the newspapers to be used for the publication of legal advertisements for 2020.

Resolution #4-2020* will designate the newspapers that will receive meeting notices for 2020.

Resolution #5-2020* will establish the regular meetings of the Governing Body to be held on the second and fourth Monday of each month (unless otherwise noted) for the year.

Resolution #6-2020* will establish the rate of interest charged for non-payment of taxes before the due date.

Resolution #7-2020* will designate Town officials who are authorized to sign checks for the municipality. 

Resolution #8-2020* will designate the CFO and/or Finance Director as the individual authorized to sell Bond Anticipation Notes.

Resolution #9-2020* will authorize the Town Manager, Assessor, and Attorney to act on the Town’s behalf regarding tax appeals for 2020.

Resolution #10-2020* will appoint the Mayor as a Class I member of the Planning Board.

Resolution #11-2020* is the appointment of the Class III member of the Planning Board.  By ordinance this must be a member of the Town Council; traditionally it is the Deputy Mayor.

Resolution #12-2020* will authorize cancellation of property tax refunds or delinquent amounts in the amounts of less than ten ($10.00) dollars.

Resolution #13-2020* will authorize using State contracts for certain purchases throughout the year.

Resolution #14-2020* will authorize certain events in Town for 2020.

Resolution #15-2020* will certify our hiring practices to comply with the U.S. EEOC requirements.  This resolution is required every year before submitting our budget to the State.

Resolution #16-2020* will appoint Kat Walker as Action Alliance Coordinator for 2020.

Resolution #17-2020* will appoint Adam Vough as Municipal Recycling Coordinator for the Town for 2020.

Resolution #18-2020* will confirm and establish petty cash and change funds.

Resolution #19-2020* will appoint members to the Ad Hoc Redevelopment Team.

Resolution #20-2020* will appoint certain individuals to the Town’s Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Resolution #21-2020* will designate Theresa Schlosser as Tax Search Officer for 2020.

Resolution #22-2020* will appoint Matthew Dickson as Council liaison to the Newton Board of Education.

Resolution #23-2020* will appoint Jason Schlaffer as Council liaison to the Economic Development Advisory Commission.

Resolution #24-2020* will appoint Sandra Lee Diglio as Council liaison to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission.

Resolution #25-2020* will affirm the Current Fund Balance Policy.

Resolution #26-2020* will affirm the Water Sewer Utility Fund Balance Policy.

Resolution #27-2020* will appoint Ginny Raftery as Clean Communities Coordinator for the Town for 2020.

Resolution #28-2020* will concur with the Town Manager’s appointment of Special Officers.

Resolution #29-2020* will appoint Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo & Cuva (FWCC) as the Town’s Municipal Auditor for 2020.

Resolution #30-2020* will authorize an agreement for FWCC for auditing services for the LOSAP program.

Resolution #31-2020* will authorize the Tax Collector to hold a tax sale in 2020.

Resolution #32-2020* will appoint David B. Simmons, Jr., as Water Engineer for 2020.

Resolution #33-2020* will adopt a Temporary Operating and Water & Sewer Budget for 2020.

Resolution #34-2020* will appoint various attorney’s for legal counsel for 2020.

Resolution #35-2020* will appoint Jessica Caldwell as Town Planner for 2020.

Resolution #36-2020* will appoint Keith Mitchell as the Town’s Insurance Agent for 2020.

Resolution #37-2020* will appoint Vicki Hall-Romer as a regular member of the Planning Board.

Resolution #38-2020* will reappoint certain Board and Commission members.

Resolution #39-2020* will appoint Fred Margron of PCI as Sewer Engineer for 2020.

Resolution #40-2020* will authorize an agreement with Holzhauer & Holenstein, LLC for appraisal services in defense of tax appeals for 2020.

Resolution #41-2020* will appoint Joyce Franklin as volunteer Senior Citizen Coordinator for 2020.

Resolution #42-2020* will appoint EXCEL Environmental as the Town’s environmental engineer for 2020.

Resolution #43-2020* will appoint McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC as the Town’s Redevelopment and Bond Counsel for 2020.

Resolution #44-2020* will approve bills and vouchers for payment.

APPOINTMENT

The Mayor will appoint the Town Manager as a Class II representative to the Planning Board.

CEREMONY

The Mayor will swear-in Robert Osborn as Police Chief, Michael Monaco as Lieutenant, and Michael Wolanski as Sergeant.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

ADJOURNMENT

Happy New Year!

Yours in Service,

TSRJR