Our next regular Town Council meeting (in person and via Zoom – Hybrid Regular Meeting) is Monday, May 23, 2022, beginning at 7:00pm.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Clerk’s office has prepared for your consideration and approval the minutes from May 9, 2022 – Regular Meeting.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This is for those that wish to address the Town Council but do not plan to stay for the whole meeting. There is a note to the public on the agenda to please keep their comments to a maximum of 3 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. Comments from the public will be both in-person and via Zoom.

COUNCIL & MANAGER REPORTS

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

ORDINANCES

There are three (3) ordinances for Second Reading:

Ordinance 2022-12 will provide funding for various Water/Sewer improvements for the Town of Newton and appropriate $1,010,108 for such purpose.

Ordinance 2022-13 will provide an appropriation of $420,000 for the installation of sidewalks in and by the Town of Newton, in the County of Sussex, New Jersey and authorize the issuance of $57,000 bonds or notes of the Town for financing part of the appropriation.

Ordinance 2022-14 will provide an appropriation of $927,450.50 for various Capital Improvements in and by the Town of Newton, in the County of Sussex, New Jersey and authorize the issuance of $664,593 Bonds or Notes of the Town for financing part of the appropriation.          

CONSENT AGENDA

If none of you have any items that you wish to pull from the Consent Agenda, the Mayor shall call for one roll call vote for all the Consent Agenda items. 

Resolution #141-2022* will accept as final and complete the repairs to the Final Clarifier at the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.

Resolution #142-2022* will insert special items of revenue in the 2022 Town of Newton Budget pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-87 (C. 159, PL 1948).

Resolution #143-2022* will authorize the award of a Required Disclosure Contract for Airmatic Compressor Systems, Inc.

Resolution #144-2022* will refund redemption monies to outside lien holder for Block 21.08, Lot 13, also known as 15 Kory Road.

Resolution #145-2022* will cancel a NJ DOT grant receivable balance in the General Capital Fund.

Resolution #146-2022* will designate June as “LGBTQIA+ Pride Month” in the Town of Newton.

Resolution #147-2022* will authorize the Town Manager to execute an amended and restated deed of drainage easement with Brookside Realty Urban Renewal, LLC.

Resolution #148-2022* will approve bills and vouchers for payment.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

As of May 20, 2022, Morris Lake is 2 inch above the top of the spillway.

Three (3) new employees were hired for June 6^th in the Department of Public Works. We look forward to Joshua Guest, Tim Wistuba, and Anthony Ford joining our team and wish them long, happy, and successful careers with the Town of Newton.

Work continues on the financing and bid process for the Babe Ruth Project.

I conducted a walk-through of Town Hall, Police Department, Firehouse 1 and Firehouse 2 with Roy and Kat this week to produce a wish list of action items for DPW (short-term and long-term).

Kat and I are working with the Fire Department on several new grant applications. One for State funding via the ARP funds and the other through Firehouse Subs. I will keep you posted.

I spoke yesterday at a virtual conference on the nascent cannabis industry. Speakers and attendees were impressed with the way in which Newton handled the ordinances and process for legal cannabis sales within the Town. We continue to receive heavy interest in the same and have a TRC meeting in June for the first retailer on Route 206. I will keep you posted.

Let’s Go Rangers!

Yours In Service,

TSRJR

Our next regular Town Council meeting (in person and via Zoom – Hybrid Regular Meeting) is Monday, May 9, 2022,beginning at 7:00pm.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Clerk’s office has prepared for your consideration and approval the minutes from April 25, 2022 – Regular Meeting and Executive Session.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This is for those that wish to address the Town Council but do not plan to stay for the whole meeting. There is a note to the public on the agenda to please keep their comments to a maximum of 3 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. Comments from the public will be both in-person and via Zoom.

COUNCIL & MANAGER REPORTS

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

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution #130-2022 will amend the Water/Sewer Capital Budget.

Resolution #131-2022 will amend the Capital Budget.

Resolution #140-2022 will amend the Capital Budget.

ORDINANCES

There is one (1) ordinance for Second Reading:

Ordinance 2022-11 will amend, revise, and supplement the Town Code of the Town of Newton, most notably Chapter 307, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic”; Most Notably Provisions of Article V “Parking Meters”, and Article VIII “Metered Parking Lots”, as well as Chapter 100 “Fees and Costs”, most notably Section 100-15, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” as recommended and approved by the Newton Parking Authority.

There are three (3) ordinances for Introduction:

Ordinance 2022-12 will provide funding for various Water/Sewer improvements for the Town of Newton and appropriate $1,010,108 for such purpose.

Ordinance 2022-13 will provide an appropriation of $420,000 for the installation of sidewalks in and by the Town of Newton, in the County of Sussex, New Jersey and authorize the issuance of $57,000 bonds or notes of the Town for financing part of the appropriation.

Ordinance 2022-14 will provide an appropriation of $927,450.50 for various Capital Improvements in and by the Town of Newton, in the County of Sussex, New Jersey and authorize the issuance of $664,593 Bonds or Notes of the Town for financing part of the appropriation.          

CONSENT AGENDA

If none of you have any items that you wish to pull from the Consent Agenda, the Mayor shall call for one roll call vote for all the Consent Agenda items. 

Resolution #132-2022* will authorize submission of a strategic plan for the Municipal Alliance for grant cycle July 2022 - June 2023, amending Resolution #59-2022.

Resolution #133-2022* will approve a Cooperative Purchasing Contract purchase for the repair of shafts and bearing replacements on RBC’s 1C and 1D through North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System Contract B279.

Resolution #134-2022* will authorize the Addendum to the Employment Agreement of Thomas S. Russo, Jr., as Town Manager.

Resolution #135-2022* will concur with the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board in allocating Water and Sewer connection fees for Block 7.09, Lots 3 & 5.

Resolution #136-2022* will authorize the issuance of estimated 3^rd Quarter Tax Bills.

Resolution #137-2022* will authorize the award of a Required Disclosure Contract with Planet Networks for Telephonic Communications Services.

Resolution #138-2022* will insert Special Items of Revenue in the 2022 Town of Newton Budget pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-87 (C. 159, PL 1948).

Resolution #139-2022* will approve bills and vouchers for payment.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

As of May 6, 2022, Morris Lake is 1 inch above the top of the spillway.

Wishing all the Moms out there an incredibly Happy Mother’s Day!

Grant applications are being submitted to the NJDEP and BPU for funding for 3 EV charging stations in Town.

I appreciate DPW taking over the cleaning duties for our municipal buildings as we will save cost and increase customer service.

Several interested parties are seriously looking at Hicks Avenue, Paterson Avenue, and McGuire’s Redevelopment areas.

NHN will be rescheduled (clean-up portion only) to Monday, June 6^th. Staff will be allowed to work either 9am-Noon or 1pm-4pm to help our annual clean up activities. Pizza will be provided for all volunteers at Noon.

Let’s Go Rangers!

Yours In Service,

TSRJR

Our next regular Town Council meeting (in person and via Zoom – Hybrid Regular Meeting) is Monday, April 25, 2022, beginning at 7:00pm. There will be two (2) items for Executive Session.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Clerk’s office has prepared for your consideration and approval the minutes from April 11, 2022 – Regular Meeting.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This is for those that wish to address the Town Council but do not plan to stay for the whole meeting. There is a note to the public on the agenda to please keep their comments to a maximum of 3 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. Comments from the public will be both in-person and via Zoom.

COUNCIL & MANAGER REPORTS

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

ORDINANCES

There are three (3) ordinances for Second Reading:

Ordinance 2022-8 will amend, revise, and supplement the Town Code of the Town of Newton, Chapter 266, entitled “Streets and Sidewalks”, Article 1 “Snow and Ice Removal”, most notably Section 266-1, entitled “Duty to Remove”.

Ordinance 2022-9 will amend, revise, and supplement the Town Code of the Town of Newton, Chapter 307, entitled “Vehicles and Traffic”, Article V “Parking Meters”, most notably Section 304-26, entitled “Additional Rules and Regulations”.

Ordinance 2022-10 will authorize the conveyance of an access easement over certain real property owned by the Town of Newton to Trinity Professional Office Building, LLC.

There is one (1) ordinance for Introduction:

Ordinance 2022-11 will amend, revise, and supplement the Town Code of the Town of Newton, most notably Chapter 307, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic”; Most Notably Provisions of Article V “Parking Meters”, and Article VIII “Metered Parking Lots”, as well as Chapter 100 “Fees and Costs”, most notably Section 100-15, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” as recommended by the Newton Parking Authority.  

CONSENT AGENDA

If none of you have any items that you wish to pull from the Consent Agenda, the Mayor shall call for one roll call vote for all the Consent Agenda items. 

Resolution #119-2022* will cancel the contract for cleaning services with Quality Facility Solutions.

Resolution #120-2022* will authorize submission of an application for DMHAS Grant Funding for the Action Municipal Alliance for 7/1/22-3/14/23.

Resolution #121-2022* will approve Schmidt’s Wholesale Water Meter Supply Bid 3-2022.

Resolution #122-2022* will authorize the use of Omnia Partners, formerly known as US Communities National Cooperative, to procure goods and services for the Town.

Resolution #123-2022* will authorize the award of a required disclosure contract for Convirgent Technologies, Inc.

Resolution #124-2022* will authorize Police Equipment and Accessories Contract pursuant to New Jersey State Contract – Division of Purchase and Property Number NJ 17-Fleet-00731. John-Paul Couce and Michelle Teets will abstain.

Resolution #125-2022* will appoint Michael Awertschenko as Municipal Representative to the Sussex County Water Quality Policy Advisory Committee.

Resolution #126-2022* will authorize a Person-to-Person and Place-to-Place transfer of Plenary Retail Consumption License No. 1915-33-011-009, amending Resolution #116-2022.

Resolution #127-2022* will authorize the award of a required disclosure contract for Planet Networks Inc.

Resolution #128-2022* will approve bills and vouchers for payment.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution #129-2022 will discuss Attorney-Client Privilege and Contract Negotiations.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

As of April 22, 2022, Morris Lake is 2” above the top of the spillway.

Plans are underway for Newton Day 2022.

We had a TRC meeting this week to discuss modifications at the Thorlabs World Headquarters at 56 Sparta Avenue.

We attended the Ribbon Cutting for Sarah Jane Photography on Spring Street. We wish her the best of everything in her new endeavors.

Staff loved the lunch delivered today by Indian Masala! Please check out this amazing new restaurant on Spring Street when you are in the mood for authentic Indian cuisine.

The Parking Authority approved the purchase of four (4) new kiosks for the parking lots in Town. This will allow for debit/credit card payments and various other ways to pay (text, app, etc.).

Let’s Go Rangers!

Yours In Service,

TSRJR