Joint Meeting between Vernon Township Board of Education and the Township Council

The Joint Meeting between the Vernon Township Board of Education and the Township Council of the Township of Vernon was convened at 7:00 p.m. on April 25, 2013, at Lounsberry Hollow Middle School, 30 Sammis Road, Vernon, New Jersey.

Call To Order

Board of Education President, Robert P. Hughes, called the joint meeting to order. Mr. Hughes advised that he would be changing the order of the meeting items to accommodate the Township Council.

Roll Call of Members

The Board of Education had their roll call.

Council Members present were: Brian Lynch, Dick Wetzel, and Council President Patrick Rizzuto. Also present was Business Administrator Jerry Giaimis. Council Members Eddie Dunn and Daniel Kadish were absent.

Statement of Compliance

Adequate notice of this meeting had been provided to the public and the press on April 3, 2013, and was posted on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6. The Board of Education had posted a notice in each of their schools, as well as on the Board’s website.

Salute to the Flag

The Board President led the salute to the flag and Pledge of Allegiance.

Presentations

Dr. Alfieri, Superintendent of Schools, honored the K-12 Music Department.

Dr. Alfieri also honored the following Governor Teacher Honorees:

  • Stephanie Gastaldello, Vernon Township High School
  • Mary E. Cafarelli, Glen Meadow Middle School
  • Shannon K. Jenkins, Lounsberry Hollow Middle School
  • Laura Ryder, Rolling Hills Elementary School
  • Laura P. Merck, Cedar Mountain Primary School
  • Renate M. Gratzl, Walnut Ridge Primary School

Mr. Hughes advised that the Board would take a short break for coffee and cake to celebrate the honorees.

When the meeting resumed, Council President Rizzuto noted the Mayor’s regrets in being unable to attend this meeting as he recognizes excellence in education. Mr. Rizzuto advised that Mayor Marotta had been installed to the Board of Directors at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors held that evening.

The Council President noted that he was very pleased with the way the Board of Education has cooperated with the Council in an effort to benefit the residents.

Public Comments

Council President Rizzuto asked for a motion to open the meeting to public comments at this time.
Moved: Dick Wetzel
Second: Brian Lynch
All were in favor.

No one in attendance wished to speak at this time.

Closed to Public Comments

The Council President asked for a motion to close the public portion of the meeting.
Moved: Brian Lynch
Second: Dick Wetzel
All were in favor.

Public Comments

The Board of Education opened the meeting to public comments on agenda items only.

No one wished to speak at this time.

Closed to Public Comments

The Board of Education closed the meeting to public comments.

Resolution #13-93

The Council President asked for a motion to table Resolution #13-93:
Moved: Brian Lynch
Second: Dick Wetzel

Council Member Lynch noted that the Morris County Cooperative Purchasing Commission had served Vernon Township well.

A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Brian Lynch, Dick Wetzel, Patrick Rizzuto
Nays: None
Absent: Eddie Dunn, Daniel Kadish
Resolution #13-93 was approved.

Resolution #13-93: Authorizing Contracts with Certain Approved Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council Vendors

WHEREAS, the Township of Vernon may by resolution and without advertising for bids or obtaining quotations purchase any goods or services under the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council; and

WHEREAS, the Township has the need on a timely basis to purchase goods and services utilizing MCCPC contracts; and

WHEREAS, the Township intends to enter into contracts with the attached referenced MCCPC vendors through this resolution, which shall be applicable to all the conditions of these individual MCCPC contracts.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township Council of the Township of Vernon, authorize the Purchasing Agent to purchase certain goods and services from those approved MCCPC vendors on the attached list, pursuant to all conditions of the individual MCCPC contracts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the governing body of Vernon Township pursuant to NJAC 5:30-5.5(b), the certification of available funds: The Chief Financial Officer shall either certify the full maximum amount against the budget at the time of the contract award, or no contract amount shall be chargeable or certified until such time as the goods or services are ordered or otherwise called for prior to placing an order, and a certification of availability of funds is made by the Chief Finance Officer; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the duration of the contracts between the Township of Vernon and the referenced MCCPC vendors shall be from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption according to law.

Commodity/ServiceVendorMCCPC Contract
Janitorial Supplies United Sales, Inc. #25
Police Pursuit Vehicles Celebrity Ford, LLC d/b/a Beyer Ford #15-A

Resolution #13-94

Council President Rizzuto asked for a motion to approve Resolution #13-94:
Moved: Dick Wetzel
Second: Brian Lynch

A roll call vote was taken:
Ayes: Brian Lynch, Dick Wetzel, Patrick Rizzuto
Nays: None
Absent: Eddie Dunn, Daniel Kadish
Resolution #13-94 was approved.

Resolution #13-94: Authorizing Contracts with Certain Approved State Contract Vendors

WHEREAS, the Township of Vernon may by resolution and without advertising for bids or obtaining quotations purchase any goods or services under the State Contract; and

WHEREAS, the Township has the need on a timely basis to purchase goods and services utilizing state contracts; and

WHEREAS, the Township intends to enter into contracts with the attached referenced state vendors through this resolution and properly executed contracts, which shall be applicable to all the conditions to current state contracts.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township Council of the Township of Vernon, authorizes the Purchasing Agent to purchase certain goods and services from those approved state vendors on the attached list, pursuant to all conditions of the individual state contracts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the governing body of Vernon Township pursuant to NJAC 5:30-5.5(b) (the certification of available funds), states that the Chief Finance Officer shall either certify the full maximum amount against the budget at the time the contract is awarded, or no contract amount shall be chargeable or certified until such time as the goods or services are ordered or otherwise called for prior to placing the order, and a certification of availability of funds is made by the Chief Finance Officer; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the duration of the contracts between the Township of Vernon and the referenced state vendors shall be from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption according to law.

Commodity/ServiceVendorState Contract #
Police Homeland Security
Equipment and Supplies
Whelen Engineering #81336
  Pro-Gard Police Products #81327
  Troy Products #81335
  Municipal Equipment Enterprises (Setina) #81332
WSCA Computer Contract Fujitsu (Brite) #75579
Software License and
Related Software
SHI, Inc. #77560

Council Business

Council President Rizzuto noted the reason for the joint meeting was to share various issues and concerns, and to work towards rectifying them. Specifically, he explained that shared services were an item of interest. He advised that these services are sometimes cheaper when done separately, but as the State requires the investigation of shared services, we should endeavor to make it work.

Council Member Lynch pointed out that based on all the accolades of the wonderful Vernon teachers, everyone could share in their positive enthusiasm.

One of the Board members noted that their maintenance workers had helped finish the floors at the PAL building.

The Council President advised that Council Member Daniel Kadish was unable to attend the meeting as he was grading final exams, and Council Member Dunn was stuck in traffic.

Mr. Rizzuto thanked the honorees for noting their past educators and administrators, as he remembered some of them well both as a parent and as a former member of the Board. He thanked the Board for their level of cooperation when developing their 2013 budget. He was pleased at not just stabilized taxes, but that they had also reduced them.

Mr. Lynch advised that at the last Council meeting he had recognized the Texas explosion, and pointed out that 8 of the 14 people who lost their lives were volunteer firefighters and EMS workers. He had lauded them as being the backbone of each community; but he noted that he had left out teachers, and that they should also be included in that category. He thanked the Board of Education for giving teachers the tools for their jobs. He advised that Vernon does a lot of shared services, as the largest community in Sussex County.

Council Member Wetzel advised that many of the recognized teachers (4 of the 6) had been his students. He felt that we cannot ignore the cooperation of the Board and Township Council, the Athletic Department’s Mr. Edelman, and the office of Community Affairs’ Ms. Wiedbrauk for the use of the fields and coordinating their efforts to great success. He was glad for the efforts of the Board of Education and their working with the Township.

Adjournment

There being no further items of business to be conducted by the Township Council, a motion for Adjournment for the Council’s portion of the joint meeting was made by Council Member Lynch. Motion seconded by Council Member Wetzel, with all members present voting in favor.

The Township Council’s portion of the Joint Meeting with the Board of Education was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Nelson, RMC
Municipal Clerk

Minutes approved: May 30, 2013