Florence, New Jersey December 7, 2016
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Florence, New Jersey December 7, 2016 The Florence Township Council held a regular meeting on the above date in the Municipal Complex, 711 Broad Street, Florence, New Jersey. The meeting was called to order by Council President Lovenduski at 8:00 PM. He led the Salute to the Flag. Council President Lovenduski requested everyone remain standing to observe a Moment of Silence for the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The Opening Statement was read by the Deputy Township Clerk: Notice was sent to the Trenton Times for information; posted on the municipal bulletin board; placed on the web-site on January 7th, 2016; and advertised in the Burlington Co. Times on January 3rd, 2016 and January 10th 2016. Present: Frank Baldorossi, Paul Ostrander, Jerry Sandusky, David Woolston, Ted Lovenduski Also present: Mayor Craig H. Wilkie; Richard A. Brook, Township Administrator; Thomas A. Sahol, Assistant Township Administrator, Kelly Grant, Esq., Township Attorney; Nancy L. Erlston, Deputy Township Clerk MINUTES Sandusky made a MOTION; seconded by Woolston to approve the following minutes. Roll call vote – all ayes. Motion carried. Unanimous approval. • Township Council Regular Session – October 19, 2016 & November 2, 2016 • Township Council Closed Session – November 9, 2016 • Township Council CDBG Hearing – November 9, 2016 • Township Council Executive Session – November 12, 2016 FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENCE It was the MOTION of Ostrander; seconded by Baldorossi to receive and file the Court Administrator’s Reports for October and November, the Tax Collector’s Tax and Water & Sewer Reports for October and the Clerks Report for October. Roll call vote - all ayes. Unanimous approval. It was on the MOTION of Ostrander; seconded by Sandusky to approve the Treasurer’s Bill List. Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval. Page 1 of 36 Florence Township Council Regular Session 12/7/16 REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE Council President Lovenduski said the Requests for Proposals were received on November 18th and the Mayor and Council are now reviewing them. APPLICATIONS A. On Premise 50/50 Raffle-Riverfront Middle School, 500 E. Front St., Florence March 4, 2017, 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. B. On Premise Merchandise Raffle-Riverfront Middle School, 500 E. Front St., Florence March 4, 2017, 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. C. Bingo – The Church of Sts. Francis & Clare McGrath Hall, Hornberger Avenue, 7:15pm-10:15pm January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 6, 13, 20, 27 April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 – 2017 D. On Premise Merchandise Raffle – Riverbank Charter School, 1300 Hornberger Ave., Roebling February 25, 2017, 6:00 pm-11:00 pm E. Bingo – Riverbank Charter School, 1300 Hornberger Ave., Roebling February 25, 2017, 6:00 pm-11:00 pm F. On Premise 50/50 Raffle-Riverbank Charter School, 1300 Hornberger Ave., Roebling February 25, 2017, 6:00pm-11:00 pm It was the Motion of Baldorossi, seconded by Woolston to approve applications A through F. Upon roll call, Council voted as follows: YEAS: Baldorossi, Ostrander, Sandusky, Woolston, Lovenduski NOES: None ABSENT: None Motion carried. Unanimous approval. PUBLIC COMMENTS Michelle Rosenblum, 19 Buttonwood Drive, asked if there could be a public information session about the Exit 52 development plans. She said there are many municipalities involved and there are many questions and many parts to the plan. For many people the first they had heard of it was from a newspaper article. Mayor Wilkie produced a map of the area in the question. He explained Exit 52 is the interchange of Interstate 295. He showed where the boundary between Mansfield and Florence was located. When he became Mayor, a property owner in that area located in Mansfield said he wanted to get sewer from Florence Township. Mayor Wilkie said he was under the impression that the property owner had all of the approvals he needed for his project. Page 2 of 36 Florence Township Council Regular Session 12/7/16 The property owner said he had planned to install on-site septic systems but because of the economy he needed to have a different type of business at the site which will employ more people and would require public sewer. It was proposed to be about 2 million sq. ft. of warehouse distribution facilities. Mayor Wilkie said he spoke to Council about the request. They all realized there would be a very large transportation and vehicle issue with a facility that large. There are already traffic issues to be dealt with in other areas of the Township. The Township is working with the State and the County to resolve the issues. The Township denied the request for sewer service. About a year and a half ago the Township learned the developer got permission to get sewer from another community. Florence would now have to deal with the traffic that would be generated. The Township could do nothing or it could talk to the other communities and try to manage the construction of the area. The Township met with the developer and said the concern is the intersection of Florence-Columbus Road and Route 130. The Township told the developer if they would help with the intersection the Township would help with getting sewer to the area. The turnpike expansion makes the communities in the area much more viable for the business industries. Most trucks would probably go to Bordentown to get on the turnpike because it would cost more to enter at Florence. Right now the Township is listening to what is being discussed and will see what is in the best interest of Florence Township. The Township wanted to make sure it was part of these conversations. Planning Area 2 in Mansfield permits sewer. In Florence Township it is Planning Area 4. It does not permit public sewers, only on-site septic. The first piece even before any conversations could be held was to find out if the State would support the Township’s ability to supply public sewer to the acreage in question. This is the piece that needs to be changed in order to allow public sewer. If the State does not agree the issue would be null and void. He said his major concerns are Florence-Columbus Road and Route 130. There needs to be support and funding for the project. He spoke to the County and the State and the only way to get support is to work with Mansfield. Mansfield agreed to work with Florence regarding the Transportation Improvement District. He said anything that is developed in the designated area in Florence and Mansfield would have to provide its fair share of improvements that are necessary on Florence- Columbus Road. Developers cannot be required to do more than their share toward off-site improvements. He knows residents’ concerns are mainly about the traffic. He explained to the developers that if they want to build it will need to meet all of the community needs and concerns. That is why Florence is involved with what is going on with Exit 52. He heard comments that the project was being rushed. He said it isn’t about being rushed, it is about being part of the process, it is a long term project. Ms. Rosenblum asked what, if anything, had been submitted to the State by the Township. Mayor Wilkie said the Township passed a resolution to the County regarding changing from Planning Area 4 to Planning Area 2. Ms. Rosenblum asked where that documentation was located. Mayor Wilkie said the minutes from that meeting were approved this evening and the resolution was available at the Township Clerk’s Office. Ordinances are on line as soon as they are introduced but resolutions are not posted to the website. Page 3 of 36 Florence Township Council Regular Session 12/7/16 Ms. Rosenblum said there were graphics with the article that was published in the newspaper. There must be documentation of plans that were prepared and planning and studies that were prepared. She asked where that information would be located. Mayor Wilkie said he did not have that information but he directed her to the County Economic Development Office who provided the information to the newspaper. Ms. Rosenblum said these were issues that directly impact the residents and she was upset that the local government officials did not have information on the plan. Mayor Wilkie said the resolutions are always readily available for review. No one asked to review it. Ms. Rosenblum said the only way to know about the resolutions was to attend the meeting. Council President Lovenduski said the resolutions are on the agendas. Mayor Wilkie said the agendas are posted on the website the Friday before a meeting and again on Tuesday if there were any revisions. Residents can sign up for automatic updates through the website. He encourages people to take advantage of the service. Mayor Wilkie said there were schematics presented to the Board of Chosen Freeholders by the County Economic Development Committee on those issues. None of it is final and it is still preliminary. None of the schematics were presented to Florence Township for approval. There are many things that would need to happen before anything would be approved. Some may believe the project is being fast tracked but that is not the case. The process will be very slow. If the State doesn’t approve the change the project would not move any further because there would not be public sewer at the site.