Garwood Council Talks Athletic Field Complex, the Pointe Lawsuit and More

An opt-in bulk pickup program was the main discussion of Tuesday's Garwood Borough Council meeting. See our full report on that debate, . In this post, other notes from Tuesday's meeting.

Athletic Field Complex bids received: Councilman and Athletic Field Complex Committee chairman Lou Petruzzelli reported that four bids to complete the project were received and ranged from $2.75 to $3.2 million. Petruzzelli also stated that one bidder is protesting the bids and that protest is being reviewed by the borough attorney. The Athletic Field Committee will meet to review all bids.

No decision yet on the Pointe vs. Garwood lawsuit: Borough Attorney Joseph Triarsi reported that the judge has not yet made a decision in regards to this suit. The borough and the Pointe are involved in ongoing litigation over whether the borough should provide snow removal. The borough believes the roads inside the condo entrances (Maple Court and Chestnut Court) are internal roadways and not municipal roads, and therefore is refusing to plow them. The Pointe residents argue that the New Jersey’s Municipal Services Act requires the borough to provide services to private communities or reimburse those communities for such services. Triarsi hopes to have a decision in the coming weeks.

Crossing guard resolution: Councilwoman Sara Todisco reported that she has a draft of a resolution regarding how crossing guards are paid in to Borough Attorney Joseph Triarsi. Todisco says the resolution does not have anything to do with Todisco said the resolution will provide a cost-savings to the borough without affecting guards' pay, but did not yet reveal the details of the proposal.

Water main work will include Hickory Avenue: Borough Engineer Don Guarriello reported at the that the water company will be doing cleaning and lining of the water main on Hemlock Street and that that work previously included Hickory Avenue but that has since been removed from the project. At Tuesday's meeting, Guarriello reported that Hickory has been added back into the project. Work has begun and he expects it to be complete by mid-July.

Canceling summer meetings?: Councilman Mathieu voiced his feelings that although council traditionally only meets once a month during the summer months, he feels council should continue to meet twice a month. Usually, the second meetings in July and August are canceled. Council members did not make an decisions on whether or not to cancel them. 

Councilmembers attending county freeholder meetings: Councilmen Keith Sluka and Jim Mathieu reported back about their attendance at the county freeholder meeting. Councilwoman Sara Todisco had previously suggested that councilmembers attend county meetings and created a rotating schedule for councilmembers to follow.

Moving legal ads from the Cranford Chronicle to the Westfield Leader?: Resident John Conlin suggested that council publish legal notices in the Westfield Leader as opposed to the Cranford Chronicle because he feels the Chronicle does not cover Garwood news adequately. Borough Administrator Christina Ariemma said she would look into whether the costs were comparable and discuss what she finds with council. Ariemma also stated that clerks usually try not to switch the paper of record because sometimes people believe the governing body is trying to hide something when they switching.

Award for the Mews and the Pointe: Mayor Patricia Quattrocchi announced the borough has received a planning award from the New Jersey Planning Officials for the Pointe and the Mews condominiums and retail complex. 

McCarrick appointed to Planning Board: Mayor Quattrocchi appointed Craig McCarrick as a Planning Board Alternate III for an un-expired term of 06/12/12 – 12/31/12. The position had been vacant for some time.

FEMA paperwork filed/Emergency Management: Mayor Quattrocchi reported that the Office of Emergency Management has filed all the necessary FEMA paperwork and will soon have a meeting of all the individuals who make up office of emergency management as we go into hurricane season so that the borough is in a good place as far as communications and equipment.

Fire Department reports for May: Councilman Petruzzelli reported that the department had a total of 14 incidents and two mutual aid calls to Plainfield and Springfield totaling 185 man hours for the month of May. 

DPW and PBA contracts: Councilmembers reported that negotiations contracts for both departments are ongoing.

Council adopted two ordinances:

Ordinance No. 12-06: AN ORDINANCE TO ASSIGN A RESTRICTED HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE AT 630 WILLOW AVENUE IN THE BOROUGH OF GARWOOD COUNTY OF UNION, STATE OF NEW JERSEY;

and Bond Ordinance 12-07: BOND ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE 2012 ROAD AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN, BY AND FOR THE BOROUGH OF GARWOOD, IN THE COUNTY OF UNION, NEW JERSEY, TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $340,000 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, TO APPROPRIATE A STATE GRANT, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO FINANCE SUCH APPROPRIATION AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS.

Council approved the following consent agenda:

12-221 Acknowledging passing of Rocco Venturo

12-222 Authorizing the tax collector to prepare and issue 3rd quarter estimated tax bills.

12-223 Authorizing the Mayor and Municipal Clerk to sign an agreement to modify the Inter Local Services Agreement with the County of Union

12-224 Maintenance contract for copy machine in Fire Department

12-225 Maintenance contract for copy machines in municipal offices

12-226 Authorizing upgrade of Officer Andrew Chuddy from Probationary to Class E. Officer

12-227 Authorizing upgrade of Officer George A. Suggs from Probationary to Class E. Officer

12-228 Appointing Catherine Lorraine Frank as Deputy Court Administrator

12-231 Signing Contract with UCDBG Year 38

12-232 Authorizing amendment to borough insurances

12-233 Accepting donation of vehicle from Garwood Board of Education

12-234 Awarding water main cleaning to National Water Main Cleaning Company