BOT Meeting re-cap 12-10-12

The following is a brief unofficial recap of many items that occurred or were discussed at the December 10, 2012 BOT Meeting.  Official minutes will be posted online at www.southorange.org when they are available or the video can be viewed on-demand at southorange.org/videoViewer.asp

Note:   I was out of town on business during the meeting, but captured the following summary by watching the video.

Presentations

Diane Malloy gave an update on recent activities from Youthnet

Joe Bauman, Redevelopment Counsel, shared a presentation on the proposed development at 3rd/Valley:

• Planning Board has proposed a Redevelopment Plan for property to be considered by BOT at Dec 17 meeting.  Village will then negotiate a redevelopment agreement and financial agreement (targeted to complete in Q1 2013); He requested the Village to extend Conditional Redeveloper status for Jonathan Rose for another 6 months.

Matt Glass, Chair of the Village Center Alliance Board, presented the proposed budget for the newly formed Special Improvement District and noted the following:

• SID Board has been working since July to develop a balanced budget for Year 1
• Q4 2012 completed goals and activities include Halloween, Holiday Open House, launch event, Executive Director Search
• Long terms goals are to fill vacancies, ensure downtown is clean, promote downtown SO, advocate for stakeholders, cultivate volunteers, ensure ordinances are sensible, educate merchants, events, fiscal responsibility
• Proposed $251.9k budget for 2013  ($36k from assessments)
• More than 20 people have applied for downtown clean-up position
• Looking for sponsor for Downtown After Sundown concerts
• Website: Sovillagecenter.org has launched
• A resolution approving the budget will be on the agenda of the December 17 BOT Meeting

CDBG Block Grant Program - Second Hearing

Application seeks $250k towards SOPAC debt service

Ordinances on Second Reading

Ordinance 2012-16 - Ordinance to define local landmarks, passed 5-0

• Karen Marlowe (President of SOHPS) - supported adoption and offered assistance to Historic Commission when it is formed
• Sister Rivka (President of Marylawn) - expressed opposition to their property being designated as local landmark

Ordinance 2012-21 - Ordinance authorizing private sale of a portion of municipally owned land, passed 4-0-1 (Trustee Bauer abstained)  This is for a small property behind Poss Law Office and Georgio's Restaurant.

Ordinance 2012-22 - Ordinance authorizing the transfer of the PILOT for "The Avenue" to a new purchaser, passed 5-0

Ordinances on First Reading

Ordinance 2012-20 - Ordinance approving a PILOT for the former Beifus site, passed 5-0

• This is for a PILOT of $200k/year (95% goes directly to the Village), increasing 2% annually, with full taxes by the 30th year
• The project includes 57 units, 99 parking spaces and 9000 sq ft of retail
• Current taxes on the undeveloped property are $60-$70k
• It is estimated that full taxes would have been $400k (with the Village receiving approximately 25% of that)

Ordinance 2012-23 - Ordinance for bonding to fund property tax appeals of $803,726, passed 5-0

Resolution

2012-268 Extending designation of Jonathan Rose as Conditional Redeveloper, passed 5-0

Consent Agenda

15 items on consent agenda passed 5-0, including resolution 2012-283, which demands that NJ Transit restore the level of service to South Orange that existed prior to October 14, 2012

Resolutions for Separate Action

Resolution 212-276 for a new Village email system, passed 4-1  

Resolution 212-280 for purchase of reverse 911 service from Everbridge, passed 4-1 

(Trustee Gould voted no on the two resolutions above, raising concerns that these were not discussed by the full BOT prior to being listed for voting, questioning  why an RFP was not issued and that there was no written criteria for the requirements for these services)

Reports

• Awaiting cost estimator for Village Hall renovation project
• Budget Workshop to be held Thursday, Dec 13
• ICMA presentation at 8pm on Thursday, Dec 13

Finance

• Cash Management Plan - meeting with CFO on Tuesday to review comments
• BOND/BAN resolution at next meeting  to consolidate BANs
• Discussed relocating phone system to trailers with a new vendor
• May have an issue with live TV broadcast when meetings move to SOPAC in February

Legal

• Meeting Thursday Dec 13 at 3pm

Planning & Zoning

• Meeting to be held on December 19

Public Safety

• Special Meeting was held to discuss concerns of PBA & SOA. Good discussion which was summarized in memo from Administrator to Board and SOPD. 
• ICMA report presentation to be held on Dec 13.  

Public Works

• Meeting to be held on December 18

Recreation

• Sent memo to BOT regarding process for picking baseball teams
• SOPAC to proceed with managing Summer Concerts next year
• Looking to do a Street Fair next year - Ross Fields is looking to coordinate.  Follow-up discussion will be held on Dec 17

Discussion

Tree Management Ordinance - Trustee Bauer requested having an Ordinance be discussed by Planning & Zoning and Public Works committees

For any questions or comments, please post below or email me at mgoldberg@southorange.org