Lebanon Committee adopts two capital ordinances and approves contracts, refunds and $1.33M bill list

The Lebanon Township Committee unanimously adopted two capital ordinances on Sept. 4 authorizing a combined $1,196,000 in improvements and equipment purchases and approved a slate of contract awards, refunds and a $1,329,592.31 bill list.

Ordinance No. 09-2024, approved from the 2023 Capital Improvement Fund, appropriates $640,000 for the township’s road resurfacing and chip-seal programs, a DPW dump truck and fire department building upgrades. Ordinance No. 10-2024, from the 2024 Capital Improvement Fund, appropriates $556,000 for similar road and chip-seal work and for DPW equipment including a maintainer, an air compressor and a calcium tank, plus a police SUV, meeting-room recording equipment and fire-prevention software. Mayor Beverly Koehler opened the meeting saying, “Official action will be taken at this meeting.” The ordinances were moved and adopted by voice vote.

The Committee also adopted several financial and procurement resolutions. It authorized redemption of two tax-sale certificates (Resolution No. 139-2024 and No. 140-2024), approving checks of $45,434.91 and $21,234.11 respectively and related premiums to the certificate holders. Two disabled-veteran tax-exemption refunds were approved: $4,763.80 to Danny Edling and $14,783.71 to Mary Bermingham after the Tax Assessor certified eligibility.

Township finance actions included escrow refunds (totals of $1,978.25 and $500.00 for Board of Adjustment and Planning Board accounts) and three small public-works and municipal-building contract awards: Van Nest Construction for museum exterior trim ($7,663.00), Prudente Custom Painting for museum facia and soffits ($5,800.00), and Access Commercial Door for replacement of two municipal entry doors ($13,858.23). Committee member Abe Abuchowski said the higher door quote reflected “the addition of the removal mullion and lock keying.” The Committee certified availability of funds for the awards.

In new business, Clerk Carolynn Budd confirmed an IT backup agreement at $200 per month for three years that can transfer to a new managed-service provider if the township changes IT vendors. The Board of Health recommended removing the Drinking Water Certificate requirement from the Certificate of Continued Occupancy; the Committee agreed and asked the municipal attorney to prepare ordinance revisions. The Committee also approved a DPW request to purchase a portable air compressor for $3,300.00.

The Committee reviewed vouchers and unanimously approved the bill list in the amount of $1,329,592.31.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 09-2024 — adopted (voice vote, unanimous); Ordinance No. 10-2024 — adopted (voice vote, unanimous); Res. No. 139-2024 (tax sale redemption for 486 West Hill Road) — adopted; Res. No. 140-2024 (tax sale redemption for 164 Mt. Grove Road) — adopted; Res. No. 141-2024 (veteran exemption/refund to Danny Edling) — adopted; Res. No. 142-2024 (veteran exemption/refund to Mary Bermingham) — adopted; Res. No. 143-2024 (BOA escrow refund) — adopted; Res. No. 144-2024 (Planning escrow refund) — adopted; Res. No. 145-2024, No. 146-2024, No. 147-2024 (contract awards) — adopted; Res. No. 148-2024 (support for SCR-81/ACR-58 veterans deduction amendment) — adopted.

What’s next: Township Attorney Mark Roselli will draft ordinance revisions to remove the drinking-water certificate from the CCO requirement and the town’s finance staff will process the approved refunds, contract purchase orders and the bill-list payments.