BOT Meeting recap 10-24-11

The following is a brief unofficial recap of many items that occurred or were discussed at the October 24 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

Presentations

Fire Chief Markey presented the Fire Department Valor Awards for Oct 2010-Nov 2011:

• Humanitarian Award - presented to Firefighter Heston Anderson for assisting an injured person in Atlantic City while he was off-duty
• Accommodation Award - presented to Tour II (Captain Shoemaker, Lt. Walsh, Lt. O’Brien, F/F Bomensatt, F/F Commins, F/F Monsees, F/F Pascuite)
  for responding to an accident on South Orange Ave involving extricating injured people from automobiles
• Congratulations and Thank You to all!

SID Advisory Report Discussion

• The Board of Trustees posed questions to the SID Advisory Committee about the report that was presented on Oct 12
• This topic will be discussed next at the November 14 Conference Agenda

Ordinances on Second Reading

• 2011-13 Fees Ordinance - creates a single schedule for all fees and increases some: passed 6-0

Ordinances on First Reading

• 2011-17 Salary Ordinance - provides salary increases for all noncontractual personnel: remains tabled
• 2011-18 Bond Ordinance - increases bond for tax refunds from tax appeals to $575,000:  passed 6-0

Public Comments

Leslie Pogany - Commented on the proposed SID and suggested polling business owners

Elaine Harris - Commented on the proposed SID - asked:

• How Main Street can be dissolved, but still exist? 
• If SID is enacted and there is an assessment, would property owners be entitled to a tax credit?  Counsel responded no...since the SID does not replace services already provided by the Municipality
• Do any of the BOT have any financial interest in downtown properties? Counsel responded that the BOT has the obligation to disclose any financial interest before voting on ANY issue.

Alyssa Aronson - Requested a vote on the SID now

Kathryn Timpson & Tracey Carroll - accepted proclamation on behalf of the CCR and summarized events of the month

Carole Anzalone-Newman - Wanted to clarify that an Improvement District is created and dissolved by the BOT; Stated that Main Street looks forward to improving downtown and recognizes changes;  Requested that the Village should leverage existing relationships and knowledge that Main Street has

Anthony Green - expressed appreciation of CCR proclamation

Consent Agenda

17 resolutions were read on Consent Agenda and passed 6-0