SOUTH AMBOY – One of the items discussed at the meeting pertained to street opening permits vs. zoning applications. At previous meetings, residents had complained that they were paying fees for work that was not done on their property.
Business Administrator Camille Tooker said, “The City Attorney was asked to clear up the ordinance pertaining to work done by residents on their property. Some residents were given out Zoning applications by mistake which did not pertain to the work that was done.”
“If the residents did not touch the curtain or apron in front of their property a zoning permit was not needed. They will get the difference of the overpayment of the incorrect applications that they filled out.”
Another resolution was approving emergency appropriation for Employee Group Health. B. A. Camille Tooker said, “The C.F.O. said the emergency appropriation of $136,000 to the Employee Group Health was because of the hiring of new employees.”
Complaints about sewer and water payments discrepancies by two residents were explained and resolved.
One complaint was from an owner at 271 First St. In September 2013 Middlesex Water replaced the meters and shortly thereafter the remote for the meters broke and they were unable to obtain any readings. The problem was fixed, but when it was repaired, the meter gave a reading for all nine months of usage per apartment instead of one quarter.
A spreadsheet was provided by the resident. They believed there was an incorrect reading by Middlesex Water Company. Because of this discrepancy and the proof provided by the resident, they would get credit on their next bill.
The NJDOT awarded the City a grant in the amount of $25,042.23. This grant came from the Highway Safety Fund/Safe Corridors.
Additional road improvements were made. One improvement included line stripping. The total contract price had decreased by $208.15 for a total contract price of $27,626.85. Unnecessary bid items were removed because of field conditions at the time of construction.
Councilman Donald Applegate was absent.
