Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Meeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southampton Township Committee advances ordinance, adopts COVID-19 leave guidelines and introduces 2020 budget
Summary
At its March 24, 2020 meeting the Southampton Township Committee approved the first reading of an ordinance on interim claims payments, adopted a consent agenda that included temporary COVID-19 employee leave guidelines, and introduced the 2020 municipal budget by title; the committee also moved to an executive session on contracts.
The Southampton Township Committee met March 24, 2020, at the Robert L. Thompson Building and advanced a slate of routine measures and pandemic-related operational guidance.
Deputy Mayor William Raftery moved to introduce Ordinance 2020-05, “An Ordinance Authorizing the Approval and Payment of Claims Between Meetings of the Governing Body,” and Committeewoman Elizabeth Rossell seconded; the roll-call vote was unanimous among the four members present (yes: Raftery, Heston, Rossell, Mikulski; absent: Committeeman James F. Young, Sr.).
The committee then approved a consent agenda that included minutes from the Feb. 18, 2020 regular meeting, bills for payment, and Resolutions 2020-37 through 2020-50. Those resolutions covered tax-collector record adjustments, renewal of certain alcoholic beverage licenses, hiring three laborer-drivers for the Public Works Department, and Resolution 2020-50, which authorized temporary guidelines for employee leave time and staffing related to COVID-19. Deputy Mayor Raftery moved approval of the consent agenda and Committeeman Ronald Heston seconded; the roll-call vote was affirmative from the four members present.
Committeeman Ronald Heston moved and Deputy Mayor Raftery seconded Resolution 2020-51 to introduce and give public notice of the 2020 municipal budget; that motion also passed on a unanimous roll-call vote of the members present.
During the public comment period Mayor Michael Mikulski opened the floor to members of the public. Andy of the Pine Barrens Tribune asked for the township’s sewer rate numbers; no other members of the public spoke and the public portion was closed.
Committee members used their reports to address pandemic-related changes to township operations. Committeewoman Elizabeth Rossell thanked local businesses for their response and said Leisuretowne offices were closed to the public but continuing to assist residents by phone. Committeeman Ronald Heston and Deputy Mayor William Raftery thanked municipal staff and public works for their work during the pandemic and noted municipal offices were closed to public access but remained operational. The committee noted the county curbside shred event scheduled for March 29 had been canceled. Mayor Michael Mikulski thanked Administrator/Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman for her efforts during the public-health emergency.
At 5:43 p.m. the committee approved Resolution 2020-52 to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing contracts. The meeting later adjourned at 6:25 p.m. following a unanimous roll-call vote of those present.
The 2020 budget has been introduced and will proceed through the township’s public notice and hearing process as required by law.
