02/08/2023
February 7, 2023 - Meeting Notes
🏁Approved minutes for the meetings of Dec 20, Jan 3, and Jan 17.
🏁Approved payment of bills. One committeeperson had questions regarding costs for renovations in the township building. The township administrator advised that the project had been planned and budgeted for.
🏁Consent Agenda was mostly approved. This includes: Refund for a tax overpayment, Release of a performance bond, Approving a transfer of liquor license, approving our Animal Control Services.
🚩One item was tabled from the Consent Agenda: A resolution for shared services. There were some concerns from both the Twp Committee and residents, which included: cost to taxpayers and any detriment to our public safety. Also, the resolution number didn't match the inserted resolution in the Agenda packet.
🚩Chief Farnsworth advised that shared services between Westampton and Lumberton have been an ongoing practice for several years and this resolution is due to protocols at the County and State levels requiring a formal resolution. Further, he noted (1) no change to township costs; (2) no change to our public safety staffing; (3) no change to staffing of Lumberton fire; (4) no change to responses of surrounding towns to Lumberton; and (5) Westampton has used Lumberton's fire apparatus in the past on a long-term basis - storage of our apparatus in their location would be available for their use should they need it.
🚩It's my opinion, based the thoroughness of Chief's reply, is that this resolution would not harm the pocketbook of Westampton's residents, nor hinder the public safety responses to which we are accustomed. I appreciate Chief Farnsworth's diligence in keeping in compliance with applicable law, code, and directives.
Public Comment
- One resident was upset with a lack of transparency and difficulty in finding information. This was both a general comment and in response to the master plan review. I understood the resident to be upset with the lack of venue to speak on certain topics. Mayor Henley noted that public comment is always open on any topic. The resident made several notes about the pending master plan review and an inability to find certain lot and block numbers.
-Some residents expressed their concern about a possible rezoning of farmland adjacent to Rancocas Village. My answer was that if the particular lot was zoned as I was informed, the masterplan amendments propose that potential developers would lose an absolute right to build a warehouse upon it.
-Another resident had comments about the workforce and morale. The Twp. Administrator advised of no problems or indicators when questioned by Mayor Henley.
-One resident advised of a disconnect in our township code and an application form charging a certain amount for solicitors and canvassers. This same resident asked about codification and being able to find pending ordinances. They can be found here https://www.westamptonnj.gov/home/pages/pending-ordinances
The committee gave their comments.
My comments included looking forward to our budget meeting. I'm excited that the committee may be able to add to our police and fire budgets for salary and wages. I'm looking forward to increasing our website's transparency and bringing credit card payments for most (if not all) payables at the building now.
Township Committee
