SPECIAL WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE/PLANNING BOARD MEETING

July 23, 2004

The Township Committee met on the above date at 9:15 p.m.

Present: Mayor Bleacher, Committeewoman Palladino, Attorney Faherty

Candidates - William Corboy and Ron Shapella

Public - Tom Molnar and Hal Shute

Mayor Bleacher called the meeting to order and asked for the flag salute. Following the salute to the flag and he stated that the Open Public Meetings Act has been complied with by special notice having been faxed to the Lambertville Beacon and Trenton Times and posted on the Township bulletin board on July 21, 2004. The Municipal Building is handicapped accessible but the Clerk’s Office should be contacted 24 hours in advance for any special accommodations.

The Committee took turns asking questions.

Palladino asked the following:

- How have you been involved in the Township?

Corboy - Have lived here 40 years, 9 yrs. on Board of Education, Industrial Committee, Planning Board 3-4 yrs.

Shapella - Have lived here 4 years, Environmental Commission since fall of 2000 and Chair since April 2001, Planning Board 2 yrs., Open Space, various sub-committees

- What do you see as the biggest challenge?

Corboy - schools (space and costs involved) and Master Plan

Shapella - Revenues to the Township, can’t depend solely on Residential Land Use - need to be doing more planning so Twp. doesn’t look like West Windsor

- Are you in agreement with the Master Plan?

Corboy - yes

Shapella - yes

- Is anything lacking in the Master Plan?

Corboy - Rt. 179 should have clean business

Shapella - Woodland Management & Stream Buffers - there are ways to do without tramping on concerns of land owners

Corboy - regarding stream buffers, he doesn’t think we need to extend what is already designated

Shapella - Stream Corridor Protection is different that C1 and the Alexauken is only one stream - need to talk about it - don’t need to rush

Bleacher asked the following:

- How can you balance ordinances with individual property rights?

Shapella - that is where public discussion and education come in - farming is exempt in many cases - don’t think effect on land values as much as people think

Corboy - concerned with down-size lots - need to look at TDR - need to be fair

- Do you believe in rights of people who own land?

Corboy - yes, their rights shouldn’t be arbitrarily taken away

Shapella - property rights are essential to what America is all about - never heard land owners be specific but from a planning perspective needed to down zone and market has taken care of any perceived loss of equity

- What is your definition of the rural character of West Amwell?

Corboy - it goes beyond the physical appearance of the Township - we are unique Shapella - it’s the people and the atmosphere

- What characterizes the people?

Corboy - even though we’re unique, we’re not an island - our people are diverse

Shapella - West Amwell is changing - the Calton residents are different than the people we see at the firehouse and township dinners - that’s why I want to be on Township Committee because I enjoy working with people and serving

Palladino asked the following:

- Do you support the Open Space tax and to what degree?

Corboy - fully support 5 cents/hundred total

Shapella - support 2 cent increase

- What are your feelings about introducing artificial infrastructure?

Corboy - for a long time I felt there were needs for it for such things as senior housing - don’t know how much it opens the door to further development - right now don’t think needs are so great - package plant vs. sewers, would probably go with package plant.

Shapella - very complex - not in favor of extending but thinks something needs to be done on Connaught Hill - package plant should be kept as an option

- Do you think something contentious should be on the ballot?

Corboy - don’t think there is often an issue of that magnitude - when elect people expect them to make the decisions - could be an instance

Shapella - for most part trust own judgement - agree with Bill

- Is there enough done to protect our history?

Corboy - BJ’s book has done some and just learned my road was used by the troops on their way to the Battle of Monmouth - What is here ought to be preserved

Shapella - BJ’s book , the video - very important to do what we can

Bleacher asked the following:

- How do you see West Amwell in context with the County and State (ie.) Pinelands and Highlands?

Corboy - are couple agendas with the Highlands - environmental and push to revive the cities but would want to resist because it takes away home rule

Shapella - Pinelands is important to NJ and actually allows a significant amount of development - Highlands something needed to be done to preserve that area - Sourlands depends on how it comes to pass but if it gets towns together that is good

- What is your philosophy of Home Rule?

Shapella - Home Rule is important but it can also serve as an obstacle to getting things done (ie) so many schools

Corboy - I believe in Home Rule and large regional planning takes that away - local municipalities should reach out so not so many schools and local police departments but they shouldn’t compromise home rule

Bleacher asked for any other questions - Clerk Hunt asked how they feel about the Governor’s CAP on Municipalities at 2.5% when the State raised their budget over 15%?

- Shapella - the taxpayers should be able to decide what the CAP will be

- Corboy - thinks the Township is very frugal already - one place to raise more money look in Assessor book at vacant lots, are undervalued because can get perc almost anywhere now

Hal Shute questioned where 700 acres have gone, did have 14,000 now only 13,300 listed.

RESOLUTION #04-76

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting in certain circumstances, and

WHEREAS, this public body is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Committee of West Amwell Township, County of Hunterdon, State of New Jersey, as follows:

1. The public shall be excluded from discussion of and action upon the hereinafter specified subject matter.

2. The general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is as follows:

PERSONNEL

3. It is anticipated at this time that the above stated subject matter will be made public when the matter has been resolved.

4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.

Bleacher announced that they talked about the choice and decided that all of the candidates are qualified. Palladino noted that they will respect the decision of the Democratic Committee.

Palladino moved for adjournment of the meeting at 11:10 p.m. and Bleacher seconded the motion. Roll Call: Palladino-aye and Bleacher-aye.

Respectfully submitted,

Betty Jane Hunt, RMC,

Township Clerk