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Byram Township Council approves consent agenda, adopts Best Practices certification and hears 2.5% COLA plan
Summary
The council approved a multi-item consent agenda including grant awards and equipment purchases, adopted its Best Practices Inventory certification (41 of 42), and heard that a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment will be introduced in 2024; managers said a solid-waste rate increase will cost the township about $35,000.
Byram Township Council on Oct. 17 returned from an executive session, approved a routine consent agenda that included grants and equipment purchases, and adopted a Best Practices Inventory certification that will be used to calculate State Aid.
Township Manager Joseph Sabatini told the council that a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has been calculated and will be introduced at the council's second meeting in 2024. He also reported that the SCMUA rate for “ID10” rose to $107.00 per ton; Sabatini said that increase will affect the township by about $35,000.
The council unanimously approved a consent agenda that covered a range of routine and budgeted items. Actions on the consent agenda included: renewing an interlocal agreement with Netcong Borough for construction department services; authorizing payments in lieu of health benefits for calendar year 2024; accepting two Chapter 159 grant entries (a $10,000 Stormwater Assistance Grant and a $5,874 Municipal Alliance grant); authorizing the purchase of a 5,500-gallon double-wall calcium containment tank not to exceed $38,093.95; authorizing the payout of compensatory time to Police Chief Kenneth Burke prior to year-end; authorizing electricity supply purchasing on an online auction site; and approving preventative maintenance and repair services for emergency generators under a cooperative pricing council. The council also approved Lenape Valley Municipal Alliance grant funding of $3,918 and adopted a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan.
On procedural business, the council adopted Resolution No. 196-2023 to submit the CY2023 Best Practices Inventory Certification form after Manager Sabatini said the township scored 41 out of 42. Sabatini described the inventory as a determinant of State Aid payments.
Council members used the reports portion of the meeting to flag upcoming local events and committee activity. Mayor Rubenstein referenced a charity hike and an environmental committee cleanup; members noted Recreation Committee plans to move Byram Fest from September to August, to use Community Pass for registrations, and to encourage nonprofit participation for certain events. Councilman Roseff requested that the Historical Society appear before the council to explain a shortfall: Sabatini said the township did not receive a promised 50% contribution from the Historical Society for a Beefsteak dinner, and Roseff recommended the society explain its accounting for the event. Roseff also requested a future update from Lakeland Emergency Squad; Sabatini said $4,000 for that purpose will be taken from Open Space funds.
The meeting began with a council motion to enter executive session on attorney-client privileged matters, contract negotiations (noted items included Hopatcong ACO I Pound and Andover Court), insurance renewal and personnel; the council returned to open session at 7:31 p.m. No substantive details were announced from the closed session.
The council approved the Oct. 3 regular and closed-session minutes, the bill list for Oct. 17 and then adjourned at 8:10 p.m. The next regular meeting will occur as scheduled; council members reminded residents to vote in the upcoming November election and to consult the township website for information on the municipal building referendum.
