SP Council Covers Budget, NJDEP Lawsuit, Memorial Day and More.

Updates on the municipal budget, Memorial Day Parade, and a proposed resolution regarding a county wide NJDEP lawsuit were among the highlights of Tuesday’s Scotch Plains Town Council meeting. Missed the meeting? Read on to learn more.

• The Council Conference meeting began with the unanimous approval to appoint a Municipal Magistrate, two interim officers.
• Zoning Officer Bob LaCosta and Township Clerk, Bonnie Lacina will be serving as interim Managers in the absence of Christopher Marion who resigned from his post on Friday. Mayor Nancy Malool stated to Patch that Marion will now be working in Old Bridge in order to be closer to his young family in Freehold.
• Scotch Plains CFO Lori Majeski will serve as interim Qualified Purchasing Agent, another position previously held by former Township Manager Christopher Marion.

• Township Engineer Robert Lynes discussed the storm outfall inspection and repair program. Lynes reported that 19 storm outfalls were damaged this past fall and are currently in need of maintenance.
• Lynes reported that construction to repair the damaged outfalls will cost close to $300,000. However, the projects will be completed with little cost to tax payers as the municipal budget includes two ordinances dedicated to this type of work.

• Township Attorney Jeff Lehrer proposed that the council compose a letter to State Senators and Assemblymembers asking that asking the government to intercede and provide some financial relief in an environmental lawsuit that threatens a large number of municipalities Union County.
• The council will vote on Lehrer’s proposed resolution at the April 17 meeting.
• There are 66 defendants in the case of NJDEP v. Occidental Chemical et al. are accused of discharging cancer causing pollutants such as dioxin as well as various pesticides and other chemicals into the Passaic River and its tributaries. You can read more
• The Environmental Joint Insurance Fund is currently protecting Scotch Plains from any cost however there is possibility of financial repercussions if insurance decides to cease assistance.

• Councilman Kevin Glover proposed that the council extract an additional $100,000 from the sewer utility or general fund surplus to lower the tax increase.
• The current proposed tax increase falls under the required 2 percent cap at 1.96 percent.
• The total amount of the surplus was not released at the meeting, however all numbers will be discussed at the official budget discussion on April 17.
• Glover stated that the $100,000 would bring the tax increase down from 1.96 percent to 1.25 percent.
• Councilman Mickey Marcus supported Glover’s statement and requested that the council should use the surplus or cut spending or find some other way to reduce the increase.
• Mayor Nancy Malool stated that the budget is a “responsible budget.” She made the following statement regarding Glover’s proposal.
  • “Although I had agreed to take $100,000 out of the sewer surplus because it was not a reckless move, as agreed by our CFO and Manager, taking out any more, from either surplus, would be reckless and irresponsible because we may not generate enough surplus to avoid future tax increases.”
  • objected to Glover’s proposal, stating that such a decision could come back to haunt the council.
    • “I’ve learned that setting lofty goals is great, but the unfortunate reality is that we are limited in time and in resources.”
    • Ultimately Glover’s proposal was tabled 2-2. Vastine was not present to weigh in on the topic.

• also proposed that the town organize a concert the Sunday before Memorial Day.  Bob LaCosta, a Vietnam War veteran, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the celebration.
• Council members expressed that the town should consult with Veterans groups before planning a concert as many were not in favor of such an event when it was proposed a few years earlier.
• The Council was also concerned with the potential cost of Police and Public Works overtime as well as the cost of paying musicians to perform at the event.