Southampton Committee approves budget by title, adopts routine resolutions; residents ask about recycling and marijuana

Southampton Township Committee approved the 2019 budget by title and a suite of routine resolutions at its April 16 meeting, and set a public hearing on the full budget for May 21, 2019.

The committee voted to adopt Resolution 2019-47 (Budget by Title) and then introduced the budget for public hearing and adoption by approving Resolution 2019-48, which schedules the hearing for May 21 at 7:30 p.m. The motions were recorded by roll call as Committeeman Ronald Heston, Committeeman Bill Raftery, Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Rossell and Committeeman Mikulski voting in the affirmative; the minutes note Mayor James F. Young, Sr. was not present for those roll-call votes.

The body then approved a block of routine resolutions (2019-49 through 2019-55). Those included adjustments to the tax collector’s records (2019-49); Resolution 2019-50, a proclamation stating that Southampton Township “will not collect new Storm Water Management or ‘Rain Taxes’”; reappointment of the tax collector and reauthorization of a shared-services agreement (2019-51); an emergency temporary budget (2019-52); final approval of farmland application(s) (2019-53); participation in Burlington County Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs for fiscal years 2021–2023 (2019-54); and the governing body’s certification of compliance with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requirements (2019-55). The minutes record each of these resolutions as passed by roll call with the same four committee members voting yes and Mayor Young not present for those votes.

The committee also approved payment of bills; that motion likewise passed on a roll call with the four members recorded as voting in the affirmative and Mayor Young noted as not present.

Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Rossell used her committee report to thank colleagues for their assistance in the mayor’s absence and to highlight upcoming local events, including Hampton Lake Bingo on May 5 and Arts in the Village on May 11. She also reported that the Girl Scouts of Southern New Jersey presented the Vincent Children’s Library with a community partner award.

Municipal Clerk/Administrator Kathleen D. Hoffman reported that the township’s recycling containers had been moved to the Public Works garage at 16 Buddtown Road and said the facility will be open Monday–Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. During public comment resident Evie Doherty asked, “Will there be information on the website about the moving of the recycle containers? Has the Committee made any decisions about marijuana in the town?” The deputy mayor opened and closed the public-comment period; the minutes record no formal response to the marijuana question.

Representatives from local fire services reported monthly call volumes: the Deputy Chief of Hampton Lakes reported 32 calls last month, and Jim Heffernan of the Vincent Fire Department reported 35 calls last month.

The public portion was closed and the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.; the minutes record a motion to adjourn made by Deputy Mayor Rossell, seconded by Committeeman Heston, with a roll call showing all named committee members voting in the affirmative, including Mayor Young.

Notes on attendance and roll calls: the minutes repeatedly record that several motions passed with four affirmative votes while noting Mayor Young was not present. The adjournment roll call later records Mayor Young voting in the affirmative; the minutes contain this internal inconsistency about the mayor’s presence during the meeting.