Matawan Borough Council Meeting 3/31/09 at 6:30pm

Special Meeting Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 6:30pm to discuss the 2009 Budget. We are assuming all Department heads and the Chief Financial Officer, will be present to discuss cuts in their Department Budgets.

Resolution 09-03-37 - Resolution to Authorize Participation in New Jersey State Health Benefits Program.

For anyone appealing their property taxes, reminder to have their Petition of Appeal submitted by April 1, 2009.

Hope to see you there.....

One of Matawan's Own Needs Help

Thank you, Aberdeener, for letting us know about Jawann Brown. Once again the Aberdeener, Joey Warren, is working in the best interests of the Community and its residents.

Jawann Brown, MRHS Class of 2005, has been attending Pace University until recently diagnosed with leukemia. Matawan Regional High School will be hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, April 22nd, from 10 AM – 6 PM. To sign up to donate or for more information, please contact Rebecca (732) 566-2538, or Joe Martucci (732) 705-5309. Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 120 lbs. A signature id must also be presented. I will post more information as it becomes available.

May God grant Jawann a complete and speedy recovery. We at the Matawan Advocate would like to add our best to Jawann Brown. You will be in all our prayers.

6th Annual Fish Fry 4-10-2009 5-8:30pm

Tired of cooking fish on Fridays during Lent, Matawan's Bravest to the rescue.

Washington Engine Company #1 at 176 Jackson Street, Matawan is hosting its 6th Annual Fish Fry on Friday, April 10, 2009 between
5:00 - 8:30pm. Ticket prices are $14.00 Adults and $7.00 children 10 and under. What a great deal!

For ticket information: Call Paul Richards 732 921 2073 or Bob Ziegler 732 620 5651.

Come out and support our Fire-fighters, Matawan's bravest. The price is right. Everyone knows Fire-fiighters are the best chefs! (Keep this between us. We so enjoy the hot dogs when Matawan's Finest (Police) cook on Matawan Day.)

Property Tax Appeals Due April 1, 2009

This is not an April Fool's Day joke. Although from the size of the increases in property taxes it seems like it.

For the record, you must file Form A-1, Petition of Appeal, available at the Matawan Borough Community Center, by April 1st. The staff at the Municipal offices are quick to explain what needs to be done. All information is provided including the booklet, "Understanding Property Assessment Appeals." A Filing Fee is required, the scale ranges from $5.00 upwards to $150 and in some cases a combination of several fees. You didn't think it wasn't going to cost you, did you? Don't forget we are in NJ, formerly the Garden State, presently, the How Much More Can We Tax you State.

Anyone with relatives who are Senior Citizens might want to check that they are getting all the aid due them. Good Luck to all those appealing their property taxes. Please feel free to let us know how the process is handled. All comments will remain confidential.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to our Irish Friends

The regular Matawan Borough Council meeting will be held Wed., March 18, 2009. Mayor Buccellato in consideration of those who celebrate St. Patrick's Day made the change in date.

Have a safe and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Follow Up to Workshop/Borough Council Meeting

Thinking about the discussions during the Workshop/Borough Council meetings.

Presentation by Maser Consulting of Vue Program - Interesting presentation by Maser regarding a computer system currently installed in the Borough. The presentation concerned expanding this program and the cost of same. Matawan Borough's Water Dept. is currently utilizing this program and will continue until July 2009 at a cost of $500. month. It appears to be a great program which will significantly assist the Borough. Middletown was mentioned as a township that utilizes this system. Don't see how anyone can compare Middletown to Matawan. Middletown is not dealing with the budget deficit of Matawan. However, with the current economic climate (which shows no signs of improving) we don't see how Matawan can afford to invest in a program of this magnitude.

Comment - This contract was awarded to Maser Consulting by a previous Borough Council. Why wasn't the eventual cost of expanding the Program discussed? Were other Engineering firms contacted for pricing or was this another "plum" given to Maser like the $300,000+ no bid contract for the Road Program?

Sign Ordinance - Mr. Monfort of the Matawan Historic Sites Commission handed out a draft of Downtown Matawan Signage Design Guidelines drafted 2/3/01. An enormous amount of work went into the guidelines with no action being taken to date. All seemed to agree that an Ordinance that can be enforced is necessary. Mr. Monfort will be working on updating the guidelines. It was noted that a current Ordinance is in place prohibiting neon signs from being displayed in store windows. This ordinance is not being enforced. Residents were receptive to working with Mr. Monfort and the Commission to bring the process to fruition. We support this program.

Ordinance Prohibiting Elected Officials from Municipal Work - Even the "Thinker" realizes this is a no brainer. While there is currently an ethics code in place, it does not appear to be followed. The Borough Attorney, Pat Menna, Esq. presented the Council with a draft of the Ordinance. Council members made certain recommendations to amend the draft. What concerned us was that current sitting Council members were allowed to contribute and eventually we presume will vote on this Ordinance. How can sitting members of Council who are currently performing work for the Borough make recommendations or vote on this ordinance? It defies logic! The question is whose interests are being protected, the individuals or the Borough?

Unemployment request - W. Malley - Former Councilman Malley applied for Unemployment Insurance and the Borough was listed as a former employer. Needless to say another no brainer. The Borough Attorney, Pat Menna, Esq. was instructed to return the form unsigned with a letter of explanation.

Items held over: Gas & municipal vehicles usage, Discussion on Recreation, Discussion of Pension Deferment, Extension of four day work week.

Borough Council Meeting

Towing License approval - R & A Auto Body, Inc. was held. Why is not known.

Reappointment of Chief Financial Officer - Council members voted to reappoint the current Chief Financial Officer. The only no vote came from Councilman Bud Mullaney. Although he gave no reason for his vote.

Comment - We believe the Council acted in the best interests of the Borough in reappointing the current CFO.

Payment of Bills - Key Auto Body was listed on the Bill List. It was noted that Councilman Kevin Mendes (whose family owns Key Auto Body) abstained from voting.

Comment - The bill list was not published on the website. However, it was mentioned that Key Auto Body Shop had an invoice on the list at the meeting. Hmmmmmmm!

We will still push to get the Bill List published on the Borough website. As residents are entitled to see how their tax dollars are being spent.

Hope to see you at the next meeting.....

Honoring Army Specialist Brian Connelly

Borough of Matawan Emergency Services will be participating in a funeral procession honoring a fallen American soldier -

ARMY SPECIALIST BRIAN CONNELLY

We urge you to come out and line the streets of Matawan today, March 7, 2009 between 11:30am and 12 noon in support of this fallen American soldier and his family.

Matawan residents may show their respect by lining the funeral route from Main St to Texas Road. Please show your support by saluting and holding an American flag in honor of Brian Connelly and his family.

Please be aware there will be traffic delays in the area during this time. For more information please contact Captain Paul Richards of the Matawan Fire Department 732 921 2073.

May God Bless Army Specialist Brian Connelly and help his family through this difficult time.

Borough Workshop/Borough Council Meeting 3-3-09 Tues.@ 7:00

Fun Fact - Today is the square root of nine.

Tonight will begin with a Borough Council Workshop meeting at 7pm, followed by the Regular Borough Council meeting at 7:30pm. We trust the Council will move forward and no longer delay these items.

Some of the Workshop items for discussion are:

Ordinance Prohibiting Elected Officials from Municipal Work This discussion is long overdue. It is unethical for any elected Borough official to perform work for the Borough. Simply put it is wrong, wrong, wrong, for an elected official to use his/her office to benefit financially in any way. It will be interesting to hear the discussion.


Gas and Municipal Vehicles Usage - This pertains to employees driving Borough vehicles to and from work.


Towing Ordinance Revision


Discussion of Pension Deferment


Unemployment Request - W. Malley - Could it be ex-Councilman Will Malley? Are Council members who don't get re-elected entitled to unemployment compensation? We know elected Council members get stipends while in office. One of the deductions taken from that stipend is NJS Unemployment. Does this qualify officials who are not re-elected into office for Unemployment Compensation? If it does, will all officials who are not re-elected be eligible in the future?

Comment - It doesn't make sense for Unemployment Insurance to be deducted from elected Borough Officials stipends. It defies logic for elected officials to receive Unemployment Compensation. This Unemployment request opens up a whole slew of questions, i.e. if a Council Person resigns prior to the end of his/her term, do they return a portion of their stipend? Does the appointed Council Person receive a pro-rated stipend? With any luck at all this will not become a lengthy discussion but have a clear cut answer.

Borough Council Meeting

Proclamation - ARC Awareness

New Business

Approval of Towing License - R & A Auto Body Inc.

Approving Borough of Matawan Volunteer Fire Dept 2009 Coin Toss

Reappointment of Chief Financial Officer

Payment of Bills - Unpublished on the website as yet. If it does become available later today we shall review and comment on it.

Hope to see you there........