All meeting minutes posted on the township website are unofficial minutes. Official copies of minutes may be obtained from the township clerk.

Minutes: May 1, 2020

A. OPENING OF EMERGENCY MEETING

1. Call to Order

An emergency meeting of the Randolph Township Council was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by Mayor Carey. The meeting was held pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Adequate notice of the meeting has been provided by posting written notice of the time, date, location and to the extent known, the agenda of the meeting in Randolph Township. This notice was posted on the Bulletin Board within Town Hall, it was filed with the Township Clerk, and it was provided to those persons or entities requesting notification. This notice was also posted on the Township website, Facebook page, Twitter account and TapInto Randolph on April 29, 2020. This emergency council meeting is for the purpose of considering a resolution to extend the grace period for the 2nd quarter tax payment as issued in Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 130, on April 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. which authorizes municipalities, by resolution, to extend the 2nd quarter property tax grace period from May 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020.

2. Roll Call

PRESENT:
Councilman Forstenhausler via Zoom
Councilman Loveys via Zoom
Councilman Nisivoccia via Zoom
Councilwoman Potter via Zoom
Councilman Tkacs via Zoom
Deputy Mayor Veech via Zoom
Mayor Carey at Town Hall

Also present: Township Manager Mountain (at Town Hall), Township Attorneys Edward J. Buzak and Keli Gallo from the Buzak Law Group (via Zoom)

3. Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Carey led the Pledge of Allegiance.

B. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Kevin Melly, 6 Kingsbrook Court thanked the Council for considering Resolution No. 124-20 as well as thanking the Council for their continuing communication to the residents during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Seeing no one further from the public, the public session was closed.

C. COMBINED ACTION RESOLUTIONS

1. R-124-20 Authorizing the Extension of the 2nd Quarter 2020 Real Estate Tax Grace Period to June 1, 2020, and Charging 0% Interest During Said Extended Grace Period as per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 130 and Authorizing that Following June 1, 2020, Interest shall be Charged from May 1, 2020 in Compliance with N.J.S.A. 54:4-67

Councilman Tkacs stated that he has received several messages from residents and small business owners stating that extending the grace period for the 2nd Quarter property taxes may make a difference. Councilman Tkacs fully supports the 2nd Quarter property tax extension to June 1, 2020.

Councilman Forstenhausler echoes Councilman Tkacs comments and also supports the property tax payment extension to June 1, 2020.

Councilman Loveys expressed his support for extending the grace period for the 2nd Quarter Property taxes to June 1, 2020 especially if it gives the township residents some relief at this time.

Deputy Mayor Veech supports the extension of the grace period to June 1, 2020 and asks the Township Manager to use all Township media outlets to advise the residents and business owners of the extension.

Mayor Carey and Manager Mountain agreed that the Township Administration and Council, past and present, have worked diligently and have been fiscally conservative over the span of several years. Because of this, the Township is in a good position to be able to extend the 2nd Quarter grace period to June 1, 2020 where, unfortunately, other towns are not. Mayor Carey fully supports the 2nd Quarter property tax grace period extension to June 1, 2020. Manager Mountain also explained that the grace period to pay the 2nd Quarter taxes is extended to June 1, 2020; however, if residents pay their taxes after June 1, 2020, interest fees would be incurred back to May 1, 2020.

Mayor Carey asked for a motion to approve Resolution R-124-20 authorizing the extension of the 2nd Quarter 2020 real estate tax grace period to June 1, 2020, and charging 0% interest during said extended grace period as per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 130 and authorizing that following June 1, 2020, interest shall be charged from May 1, 2020 in compliance with N.J.S.A. 54:4-67.

Councilman Forstenhausler made a motion to approve the Combined Action Resolution. Councilman Tkacs seconded the motion, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilman Forstenhausler
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilwoman Potter
Councilman Tkacs
Deputy Mayor Veech
Mayor Carey

NAYS: None

D. EXECUTIVE SESSION

There was no Executive Session.

E. ADJOURNMENT

Deputy Mayor Veech made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 a.m. Councilman Tkacs seconded the motion, and the following roll call vote was taken:

AYES:
Councilman Forstenhausler
Councilman Loveys
Councilman Nisivoccia
Councilwoman Potter
Councilman Tkacs
Deputy Mayor Veech
Mayor Carey

NAYS: None