Tuesday's Town Council Agenda

Tonight’s Westfield Town Council meeting will see a Finance Policy Committee report regarding a near $1 million bond to purchase a new ladder truck for the Westfield Fire Department. The WFD has been without a ladder truck for almost a year, since its previous ladder truck was destroyed in September 2011 during Hurricane Irene.

The bond comes amidst growing concern the WFD is undermanned. During the six-alarm fire that decimated Ferraro’s restaurant in May of 2011, Westfield’s ladder truck sat in the fire house just around the corner due to a lack of manpower while first responders waited for the Cranford Fire Department to arrive with its ladder truck. The Ferraro’s fire happened just weeks after a four-alarm fire at the Hamilton House apartment complex on Mountain Avenue, where again the WFD ladder truck sat unused in the fire house.

Mayor Andy Skibitsky is also expected to speak on the topic of the recent state pension report, which found 57 municipalities and school districts—including Westfield—out of 58 investigated around the state in violation of New Jersey pension rules.

The following is the proposed agenda for tonight’s meeting of the Westfield Town Council:

Proposed Agenda

This agenda is prepared for the information of the public. It is the order of the meeting; however, if changes in order, deletions or additions are made, they will be noted at the time

1. Roll Call
2. Invocation
3. Salute to the flag
4. Presentations
5. Appointments
6. Advertised Hearings

SPECIAL ORDINANCE NO. 2177
BOND ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAKING OF VARIOUS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ACQUISITION OF NEW ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY, NEW COMMUNICATION AND SIGNAL SYSTEMS EQUIPMENT AND A NEW AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE, INCLUDING ORIGINAL APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, IN, BY AND FOR THE TOWN OF WESTFIELD, IN THE COUNTY OF UNION, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $160,000 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT, 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.

GENERAL ORDINANCE NO. 1990
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS OF THE TOWN CODE, CHAPTER 13

Pending Business 

Ordinances as listed under Advertised hearings

1. Approval of Minutes from Town Council Meeting held July 10, 2012 
   Approval of Minutes from Conference Session held July 10, 2012 
2. Petitions and Communications
3. Open discussion by citizens
4. Bills and Claims in the amount of $566,539.58
5. Reports of Standing Committees 

Finance Policy Committee

1.  
   1. Resolution authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to draw warrants for overpaid taxes for 2011 and 2012
   2. Resolution to approve insertion of special item of revenue in the municipal budget (Library – Summer Program)
   3. Resolution authorizing Chief Financial Officer to draw warrant for second quarter Construction Official’s State permit fees for 2012
   4. Resolution authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to draw a warrant to the order of New Jersey Department of Health for Dog Licenses for the month of July 2012
   5. Resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the Westfield Municipal Alliance grant
   6. Resolution authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to refund Recreation Department fees
   7. Resolution authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to draw a warrant for disc jockey services for the Recreation Department’s annual Family Fun Night Swim
   8. Resolution to create an emergency appropriation
   9. SPECIAL ORDINANCE 2178
      BOND ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE ACQUISITION OF A NEW AERIAL FIRE TRUCK WITH PUMPER, INCLUDING ORIGINAL APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, IN, BY AND FOR THE TOWN OF WESTFIELD, IN THE COUNTY OF UNION, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $988,000 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT, 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.

Public Safety, Transportation and Parking Committee

Code Review & Town Property Committee

1.  
   1. Resolution to approve demolition of a single-family dwelling located at 37 Faulkner Drive
   2. Resolution to approve demolition of a single-family dwelling located at Carol Road
   3. Resolution to approve demolition of a detached garage located at 819 E. Broad Street
   4. GENERAL ORDINANCE NO. 1991
      AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CERTAIN PROVISION OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF WESTFIELD  (SECTION I ARTICLE 11.27 & SECTION II ARTICLE 11.28)
   5. GENERAL ORDINANCE NO. 1992
      AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF WESTFIELD (SECTION I ARTICLE 17, SECTION II, SECTION III ARTICLE 17)

Public Works Committee

1. Reports of Department Heads

Adjournment