Present were:

Patrick Gillespie, President	Robin Rosen, Secretary	Joseph Arena
Peter Davis, Vice-president	Russell J. Azzarello, Director	Michael D'Agnes
Mark Proudman, Treasurer	Michael Jacobs, Business Administrator	Michael Spina

 

 

 

Absent were:

Mayor Jim Phillips	Nick Smolney	Kevin Ruffler
Raj Patel	Larry Redmond	Laheri Mehta
Edward Testino, Councilman

 

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m.

Salute to the flag was followed by roll call.

Statement was made that the meeting was held in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meeting Act.

Mark Proudman gave his Treasurer's Report and Bill List for the months of June and July 2005.

A motion was made by Michael Spina, seconded by Peter Davis and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the June and July 2005 Treasurer's Report and the June and July 2005 Bill List.

A motion was made by Michael Spina, seconded by Patrick Gillespie for the approval of the June 8, 2005 Meeting Summary. The motion was carried.

Before the Executive Director gave his report, Pat Gillespie introduced and welcomed Ellen Ritchie as the new Director of Community Development. Ellen has come to Old Bridge Township from Franklin Township. Ellen is a licensed Planner and was the Franklin Township Planner for 19 years. Ellen will be taking John Vincenti's position.

Russell Azzarello gave his Executive Director's Report.

There is significant activity along Route 516 and Owens Road into the entrance of Mannino Park and the YMCA. They have begun clearing trees and widening of the entrance into Mannino Park. The road and curbing work for bus landing lanes is progressing. There have been some changes with the YMCA. The YMCA of Freehold has agreed to take over the project of the YMCA. Freehold is very anxious to proceed. Ray Farrell is the chief volunteer officer. We have already had several meetings with Freehold. Mr. Azzarello has also had a meeting with George Sharpf, who is the major fundraiser helping us.

With reference to the activities along Route 9 north, BJ's Wholesale Club is now under renovation. All the demo permits have been issued and they are moving along with the project. Mr. Azzarello has met with BJ's marketing people and their community relations group.

Amit Patel reached out to Mr. Azzarello with reference to hotel activity on Route 9. He is interested in the old Town Hall site. Mr. Azzarello facilitated and attended a meeting with Financial Resources. David Findel, CEO, met with Amit and his father, who is the head of the company. They already have hotels like Holiday Inn and Hampton Suites. Negotiations have started.

Update on Stanberry - Eric Aronowitz is the assistant County Council. He assisted with the developer's agreement to get it on the Freeholder's agenda for August 18, 2005 so they can be the applicant for the DEP on traffic improvements along Texas Road near Route 9. It was critical that the County take that on.

Mr. Azzarello has had preliminary discussions with Russ Weber of Weber Realty. He owns property along Disbrow Road and Route 34. Mr. Weber has recently been taking with Rite Aid for the development on the corner. He is meeting resistance with the residents. The Councilman in that area has been working with them.

The local businesses of Old Bridge have contributed significantly to the funding of the fireworks display for Salt Water Day, scheduled for Saturday, August 13. We thank Robin Rosen (Oasis) and Peter Davis (Amboy National Bank) for once again giving their support. Just to name other contributors who will be recognized on that day, DCH Academy Honda, Indian Cultural Assoc., BJ's Wholesale Club, Associates in Cardiology, Shoppe's at Old Bridge (Stanberry), Raritan Bay Medical Center, Raceway Park, Arbes Landscaping, Rural Metro, the Police Unions, Laurence Harbor First Aid, Councilman Bob Volkert, and several others.

Mr. Azzarello discussed a piece of property that was talked about at the last meeting called CIBA. It's the old Madison Industries/CPS on Waterworks Road, Runyon Watershed. The activity is now on a higher level. A firm has taken over the entire site and it will manufacture road type materials. It will be state-of-the-art and should clean up the CIBA site significantly. Alongside the property is an additional 20 acres of vacant land. Those 20 acres are being considered for a warehouse park that will be creating additional ratables and value. All of the traffic is intended to be through Bordentown Avenue into the back on Browns Crossings. We do not expect to see any traffic along Pension Road, Cheesequake Road, and Madison Park.

Next to that site is a recycling site. In March a company by the name of Transco, which is a huge pipeline company and brings gas across the country, has a pipeline that goes through Old Bridge. They are considering a compressor station being built either on two sites in Old Bridge or Sayreville. Sayreville's Zoning Board rejected the site. There have been a few public meetings in Old Bridge on this matter. They are looking at the RTI site as a compressor station. However, another application is with Clayton Block and Concrete. This is just to make us aware that Clayton is competing for this site. Mr. Azzarello suggests that the Township should keep an eye on the matter.

Municipal Golf Course - the Recreation Department and Golf Committee sent out an RFP and received only one bid. The Golf Committee must review the bid. It's a proposal on behalf of one of the golf course architects and developers. This is going to be municipally owned land. The developer does not have the ownership of the property; therefore, the financing is going to be based on long term leases and the ability for them to make the profitability. This is proposed as zero cost to the taxpayers. It looks like an attractive layout and a good amenity to the town. The one company that came forward was Far Hills Capital. There is an issue of water use on that land.

A motion was made by Patrick Gillespie, seconded by Michael Spina and unanimously agreed upon for the approval of the Executive Director's Report.

Mr. Gillespie discussed the matter of COAH. It has been discussed a few time at the council meetings. Every town in New Jersey is under an obligation to provide affordable housing. Over the years the State assigned a number of affordable housing units each town must meet. There were a variety of ways a town could meet these obligations. Old Bridge has always complied with both round one and round two. We are now facing the third round, which is different; a town does not get a number anymore. The State has come up with a fee structure that can be imposed not only on residential development, but on non-residential development as well. The State has developed a formula for non-residential which is calculate by square footage and the number of jobs. Residential is calculated on the number of units. If you are going to approve or produce a certain amount of square feet of non-residential development, you will have to account for a certain number of affordable housing units.

Ellen Ritchie stated that Old Bridge has a deadline for September 13, 2005 to get approval from COAH as to our requirements. Ms. Ritchie directed her staff to track down what our neighboring towns are charging and compare what their COAH Development fees are. Mr. Gillespie raised a question to Ms. Ritchie: "Do we get credit for a surplus of units that carries forward from round 2?" Ellen Ritchie said yes. Old Bridge already has a 1/2% (one-half percent) fee on residential. Mr. Gillespie recommends the Economic Development Corporation go to the Council to amend our ordinance with a 1$ (one percent) fee on residential and zero percent on non-residential. We can always revisit it if our numbers come out in a negative way. We can possibly review it every year.

A motion was made by Mike Spina that Old Bridge Township increase its COAH development fee to 1% (one-percent) on residential and leave non-residential at zero percent. Motion carried.

Mr. Azzarello suggested that he and Ellen Ritchie will draft a resolution for the next Council meeting on August 22, 2005.

Mr. Gillespie open the meeting to the public.

Mr. Gillespie closed the public portion

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.