NORTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

REORGANIZATION MINUTES

JANUARY 4, 2024, 7:00 p.m.

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IN PERSON

CALL TO ORDER Township Clerk called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

FLAG SALUTE: Township Clerk leads the salute to the flag

INVOCATION – Mr. Wayne Voorhees offered prayers and well wishes for the up-coming year.

SUNSHINE STATEMENT: “The provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act have been met. Notice of this meeting has been transmitted by email to the Courier Times, Burlington County Times and The Trenton Times as well as given to those having requested same and posted on the Township bulletin board located in the foyer of the municipal building”.

OATH OF OFFICE FOR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS ELECT:

Township Clerk called for Committeeman Elect David Forsyth to be sworn into office. Mr. Mark Roselli, Esquire administered the Oath of Office. Everyone extended a round of applause.

ROLL CALL: Committeeman DeBaecke

Committeeman Doyle

Committeeman Forsyth

Committeeman Kocubinski

Committeeman O’Donnell

Absent: None

Also Present: Township Clerk Picariello

CLERK CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS FOR MAYOR 2024

The Township Clerk called for nominations for Mayor 2024:

RONALD DEBAECK JR FOR MAYOR

Mayor DeBaecke came forward to be sworn in by Mr. Mark Roselli Esquire. Everyone extended a round of applause.

NEW MAYOR CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS FOR DEPUTY MAYOR 2024

Mayor DeBaecke called for nominations for Deputy Mayor 2024.

BRENDAN O’DONNELL FOR DEPUTY MAYOR

Deputy Mayor O’Donnell came forward to be sworn in by Mr. Mark Roselli Esquire. Everyone extended a round of applause

NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY

Mr. Mark Roselli, Esquire

PUBLIC COMMENT: Members of the public wishing to address the Township Committee must state their name and address for the record.

Mayor DeBaecke opened the meeting to the public. There were no public comments this evening.

MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT

Proposed By: Mayor DeBaecke

Seconded By: Committeeman Doyle

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE LIAISON POSITIONS FOR 2024:

• Appointment of Police Commissioner Christopher Doyle

• Appointment of Public Works Commissioner David Forsyth

• Appointment of Landfill Commissioner/Recycling Commissioner David Forsyth

• Appointment of Recreation Commissioner John Kocubinski

• Appointment of Mobile Home Commissioner Brendan O’Donnell

• Appointment of Sub-Standard Housing Commissioner Ronald DeBaecke

• Appointment of County Land Use Office Liaison John Kocubinski

• Appointment of Liaison to Jacobstown Fire Company Brendan O’Donnell

• Appointment of Liaison to Small Cities Grant Matters John Kocubinski

• Appointment of Military Liaison John Kocubinski

• Appointment of COAH Liaison Ronald DeBaecke

• Appointment of Administrative Liaison Brendan O’Donnell

MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS

Mayor DeBaecke made the following appointments:

Joint Land Use Board:

• Class I Ronald DeBaecke - Mayor Designee – Term ending 12/31/24

• Class II Joseph Greene -Township Official – Term ending 12/31/24

• Class IV Russ Cominsky – Term ending 12/31/27

• Alternate #1 Wayne Voorhees – Term ending 12/31/25

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT CLASS III- DAVID FORSYTH

ORDINANCE – INTRODUCTION

2024-01 An Ordinance of the Township of North Hanover Adopting Redevelopment Plan for Block 800 Lot 61, North Hanover Township, Burlington County, New Jersey

MOTION TO INTRODUCE

SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 7, 2024 AT 7:00 P.M.

CONSENT AGENDA DEFINED:

All matters listed on today’s consent agenda are to be considered as one vote by Township Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.

2024-01 Resolution Appointing Various Members of the Township Professional Staff and Authorizing Professional Service Agreements for the year of 2024 Under the Fair and Open Process

2024-02 Resolution Providing for the Appointment of Certain Officers, Appointees and Employees

2024-03 Resolution Fixing the Date, Time and Place of Regular Meetings and Board of Health Meetings of the Township of North Hanover Committee making Provisions Relative to Scheduled Holidays, Special and Emergency Meetings and Adopting Certain Procedures and Forms

2024-04 Resolution Establishing the 2024 Temporary Municipal Operating Budget

2024-05 Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds and Investing Funds

2024-06 Resolution of the Township of North Hanover Fixing the Rate of Interest to be Charged on Delinquent Taxes or Assessments and any other Municipal Charges/Fees

2024-07 Resolution of the Township of North Hanover Authorizing the Filing of Tax Appeals by the Township Tax Assessor to the County Board of Taxation

2024-08 Resolution Naming Legal Depositories

2024-09 Resolution Naming Legal Depository for Certificates of Deposit

2024-10 Resolution Designating Legal Newspapers

2024-11 Resolution Adopting a Cash Management Plan for 2024

2024-12 Resolution Authorizing the Tax Collector to Conduct a Standard Tax Sale in 2024

2024-13 Resolution Authorizing the Tax Collector to Process Property Tax Refund and Cancellation of Refund or Delinquency of Less Than Ten Dollars ($10.00)

2024-14 Resolution Appointing a Risk Management Consultant – Burlington County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund

2024-15 Resolution Appointing Labor Attorney to the Burlington County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund

2024-16 Resolution Authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to Pay Certain Bills in Advance of the Regular Township Committee Meetings

2024-17 Resolution Approving the use of Roberts Rules of Order for Township Committee Meetings for Parliamentary Procedures

2024-18 Resolution Appointing Fund Commissioner and Alternate Fund Commissioner to the Burlington County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund

2024-19 Resolution Appointing a Claims Coordinator for the Burlington County Joint Insurance Fund

2024-20 Resolution Appointing a Safety Coordinator for the Burlington County Joint Insurance Fund

2024-21 Authorizing the Municipal Clerk to Execute all Bingo and Raffle Games of Chance Applications that Meet All Provisions Pursuant to Statute for the 2024 Calendar Year

2024-22 A Resolution Authorizing an Exchange of Construction Code Services

2024-23 Resolution Authorizing Prosecutor Koutsouris with the Authority to name an Alternate Prosecutor in his Temporary Absence

2024-24 Resolution Adopting Rules and Regulations Governing Members of the North Hanover Township Police Department

2024-25 Resolution to Affirm the Township of North Hanover’s Civil Rights Policy with Respect to All Officials, Appointees, Employees, Prospective Employees, Volunteers, Independent Contractors and Members of the Public that come Into Contact with Municipal Employees, Officials and Volunteers

JACOBSTOWN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

Mayor DeBaecke asked the JVFC members present to come forward to be sworn in. Attorney Roselli swore in the members. Everyone extended a round of applause. Mayor DeBaecke thanked the members and wished them well.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE COMMENT

Committeeman Kocubinski stated he was appreciative for working with this Township Committee and looks forward to a positive year. He noted his appreciation for the friendship and hard work. He thanked the members of our Boards and all the Volunteers who work hard. He wished the Mayor success and congratulated Committeeman Forsyth on his re-election. He wished everyone blessings in the New Year.

Committeeman Doyle noted it has been a pleasure working together. He noted North Hanover was a wonderful place to live and is grateful to be a member of the Township Committee, in the town he grew up in. He thanked the staff, volunteers and the professionals for their hard work.

Committeeman Forsyth noted his appreciation for the volunteers and employees. He congratulated the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on their respective positions. He noted Assembly Bill 4729 is now passed both house and on the Governor’s desk. He noted this would help with farmland preservation.

Deputy Mayor O’Donnell noted this Township Committee works well together and believes this makes a difference. He wished everyone well.

Mayor DeBaecke hoped everyone had good holidays. He congratulated Committeeman Forsyth and Deputy Mayor O’Donnell. He noted the intent was to continue to work well together. He thanked the Township Committee for their faith in him to serve as Mayor. He noted 2023 was personally difficult and he was looking forward to 2024. He thanked all the volunteers, employees and professionals for their hard work. He thanked Clerk Picariello and noted her impending retirement. He also was pleased with the farmland preservation bill and the Assemblyman who assisted with moving the bill. He noted his testimony during the hearings on the bill. He stated he was proud of the bill.

Committeeman Kocubinski thanked Clerk Picariello for her hard work and noted she was North Hanover’s rock. He stated the job was hers as long as she wanted it. Clerk Picariello expressed appreciation and stated the Township had a wonderful team and she would not be successful without her co-workers. Mayor DeBaecke noted her retirement is well deserved.

MOTION TO ADJOURN 7:30 pm

Proposed By: Deputy Mayor O’Donnell

Seconded By: Committeeman DeBaecke

Respectively submitted,

___________________

Mary Picariello, RMC/CMR/CTC

Township Clerk