Woodland Township committee moves into closed session after routine workshop on liens, fees and staffing

Woodland Township Committee members reviewed routine municipal business at a Jan. 28 workshop and approved a resolution to move into closed session to discuss pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiations.

The meeting opened at 6 p.m., and the Clerk read the required public‑notice statement, saying, “This notice was sent to the Burlington County Times and the Courier Post newspaper and posted on the public notice section of www.woodlandtownship.org,” a compliance step under New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act. The Clerk then recorded attendance: Mayor DeGroff, Mr. Herndon, Miss Moll, Mr. Leese, Mr. Burns, Miss Rosamondo and Mr. Shapiro were listed as present.

Much of the workshop covered routine agenda items. The Clerk described a resident’s request to assign two small liens off Applejack Road to a neighboring owner (identified in discussion as Mr. Foose) so the owner could pursue foreclosure and later swap land with a conservation parcel; the Clerk said the liens date to 1979 and are “minimal” in value. The Clerk also reported applications from the Cranberry Festival and an icebreaker/bridal event (which Chief Esgarde approved), said she would introduce an ordinance to amend emergency call‑out pay rates, and noted construction and inspection fees have not been updated since 2017 and may rise by about $5–$10 for residential permits with larger effects for commercial work.

The Clerk said Resolution 29, a transfer of appropriation reserves, was increased to $1,200 to cover additional bills, and that final payout paperwork for a tanker truck purchase was on her desk though delivery timing remained uncertain. She also placed appointments for two backup snow laborers (Tom and Chris Shapiro) on the agenda and noted two firefighter promotions to lieutenant will be sworn in. Other administrative items included December tax collections, a scheduled special meeting on Feb. 18, auditors beginning financial statements work, and a rabies clinic using a new veterinarian because the longtime vet is retiring.

The committee then considered Resolution 26‑23, which the Clerk read in full. The text cites the Open Public Meetings Act and NJSA 10:4‑12 as the statutory basis to enter closed session for discussions exempt from the public meeting, specifically “pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation.” The Clerk asked for a motion; she moved the resolution and the Chair seconded. A voice vote followed and 'Aye' responses were recorded; the Clerk acknowledged adoption and the committee prepared to enter closed session. The Clerk also asked whether staff member Kathy should remain for the closed session and recommended she do so; the Chair agreed.

The committee stopped public recording and went into closed session; minutes of the closed session were noted as subject to future public disclosure consistent with NJSA 10:4‑13 when confidentiality no longer applies.

No formal votes on ordinances or fee changes were taken during the workshop; the Clerk said some items (including the lien assignment and the emergency pay ordinance) will return for formal action at a future meeting.