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CAMDEN COUNTY
BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS MEETING
FEBRUARY 15, 2007 - 7:00 P.M.
OAKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT
20 WEST CLINTON AVENUE, OAKLYN, NJ

The meeting was called to order by Deputy-Director Edward McDonnell at 7:00 p.m. The following Freeholders answered to their name:

PRESENT: CREAM, GRECO, NASH, RIPA, RODRIGUEZ, MCDONNELL
ABSENT: CAPPELLI

The Deputy-Director stated that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

Deputy-Director McDonnell advised that the County has available, if requested, large print agendas for the visually impaired. The Deputy-Director explained that if anyone requires one to please see the Clerk of the Board.

The Deputy-Director welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said we are very pleased to be here this evening at the Oaklyn Fire Hall. He thanked Mayor and Council for hosting the meeting. He said it is the practice of the Board to hold our meetings each month in one of our municipalities outside of the County seat of Camden so that all members of the public will have full access to the meetings of the Board.

The Deputy-Director asked everyone to stand and then called upon Pastor Carl A. Browne, Jr. Of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church of Oaklyn to come forward for the invocation. The Deputy-Director thanked Reverend Browne for his words of inspiration and thanked him for coming to the meeting.

The Deputy-Director then introduced Oaklyn resident, Bradley Overholt and said that Bradley is going to lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Deputy-Director then called upon Mayor Michael LaMaina to come forward. The Deputy-Director said that the Mayor has some special information he would like to share with everyone about Bradley.

Mayor LaMaina welcomed the Freeholder Board and thanked them for coming to Oaklyn. He said it is great to have everyone here this evening. The Mayor said tonight we would like to honor a special guest, Bradley Overholt. The Mayor said Bradley has been a resident of Oaklyn for his entire life and the Mayor said he has had the opportunity to know Bradley as he was growing up. The Mayor said that Bradley is the first Oaklyn resident in over 21 years to have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Mayor LaMaina said we are very proud to have him in our town.

The Deputy-Director then asked everyone to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Bradley Overholt, along with his Troop’s Honor Guard presenting the colors. Deputy-Director McDonnell thanked Bradley and thanked the Mayor for bringing Bradley to the Freeholders’ attention. He said it is good to know there are so many great kids out there. The Deputy-Director said for those of you who don’t know becoming an Eagle Scout is a huge accomplishment. He said as the Mayor said Bradley is the first person to become an Eagle Scout in 21 years in Oaklyn. The Deputy-Director congratulated Bradley.

Deputy-Director McDonnell then called upon Sandra Turner Barnes, Executive Director of the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission, to perform the National Anthem in honor of Black History Month, followed by a reading of a poem.

The Deputy-Director said as it is our custom during our meetings, we will begin tonight=s meeting by asking Mayor and Council to come forward for two presentations. The Deputy- Director thanked the Mayor and Council for having the Freeholders here this evening. He said we always love coming to Oaklyn, one of the great communities of Camden County which has great leadership as well. He then asked Mayor LaMaina to introduce members of Council. The Mayor introduced Councilwoman Maggie McNamara, Council President James Rafferty, and Councilman Michael Krusen. Mayor LaMaina noted that Councilman Robert Forbes and Councilman Victor Santucci were unable to attend because they were away on business.

PRESENTATION
Recycling Rebate Check

Deputy-Director said usually each month we go to a community that is actively aggressive in recycling. The Deputy-Director said Freeholder Nash is liaison to the Camden County Parks Department and oversees the County’s recycling program. The Deputy-Director called upon Freeholder Nash to make the presentation. Freeholder Nash said that Oaklyn is one of the top recycling communities of the 37 municipalities in Camden County. Freeholder Nash said the benefit of recycling is that it not only reduces the emissions of our solid waste facility but it also is an opportunity to give money back to the residents of the community. Freeholder Nash said today because of all of the recycling that has been accomplished over the past year in this community, we are pleased to present to the residents of the town the amount of $4,244.73.

Mayor LaMaina thanked all the Freeholders of Camden County. The Mayor said he would also like to acknowledge someone who is responsible for this and he introduced the Superintendent of Public Works, Rick Hawco.

Deputy-Director McDonnell asked Mayor and Council to stay and said the Freeholder Board has started a tradition at the monthly meetings to make a presentation to the Mayor and Council as a thank you for hosting the meeting. He said we recently decided to ask Mayor and Borough Council to give the name of an organization in the community that is doing especially good work and the Board would in the name of the Mayor and Council present a small check in support of that organization. The Deputy-Director said the Mayor and members of Council submitted the name of the Oaklyn Civic Association. Deputy-Director McDonnell said the Oaklyn Civic Association has been under the current administration for nine years. He said several members have contributed to the success of the Association throughout the entire time and one such member is Ann Henderson. He said under the leadership of Charles Lehman, the Association President, the group has organized or hosted a large number of events such as the July 4th Parade, the Halloween Hay Ride and Easter Egg Hunt. He said that the Oaklyn Civic Association will be recognizing in April, 2007 residents who live in homes that are 100 years old. Deputy Director McDonnell said the Oaklyn Civic Association is a very active, important organization in Oaklyn. The Deputy-Director asked Mayor LaMaina to present the check to Charles Lehman.

Mayor LaMaina thanked Charles and Ann for all they have done for the Civic Association. He said the Civic Association was started at the Council meeting when they came forward and said we should have a town picnic and Council said that is a great idea - we should start an organization. He said that spawned not only into a Civic Association but also the Historic Society which Charles is actively involved in also. The Mayor said the Civic Association runs every major event in town. He said it is one of the hardest working group of volunteers we have in town and we are very proud to have them. He said we appreciate you every single day.

COMMUNITY AWARD

Freeholder Cream welcomed everyone. Freeholder Cream said it is her honor, always during the month of February, Black History Month and for those who might not be aware, every year the Country celebrates Black History Month and it is her responsibility, at least it has been during all the years that she has been a Freeholder, to pick out the person from the various municipalities who she thought really exemplified what all of us should be like. Freeholder Cream said as everyone knows, she is a retired high school principal and said she still reads the sports pages. She said in reading the sports pages about a month ago, she saw this beautiful article. The Freeholder held up the article with the young woman’s picture. She said it told the story about how April Holmes graduated from Camden High School. The Freeholder said she was not privileged to know this young woman because she was born in 1973 and Mrs. Cream had left Camden High School long before Ms. Holmes enrolled there. The Freeholder said then April moved with her parents and she now lives in Somerdale. The Freeholder said she was a wonderful athlete when she was in High School and graduated with many honors. She was a great track star. Freeholder Cream said about seven years ago when she was at 30th Street Station, she fell and a train ran over her leg. They took her to the hospital and within a half hour, the doctor said she would have to have her leg amputated below the knee. Freeholder Cream said this was done. After about four months, she started to wear a prosthesis and within a short period of time, she made the decision that she was not going to just sit around and do nothing, she was going to learn how to walk again. She used the prosthesis and in the newspaper it mentioned that she said it was so thin that it felt like you were putting eyeliner on your eye. Freeholder Cream said she learned how to walk again. That didn’t stop her; she continued to run in races with her prosthesis, having the one leg. She won many awards across the United States. After that, she went to Europe and has won the 100 Meter dash and other races there. Freeholder Cream said she is really an outstanding young lady. After having done that, she traveled to Greece and that still was not enough for her. She wanted to do more for people. She started the April Holmes’ Foundation for all young people who have disabilities and have problems, she goes around to visit them in hospitals. Freeholder Cream said she really is an outstanding young lady. The Freeholder passed around the article with the picture. The Freeholder said you look at her lovely face and you can see how she cares about people of all ethnic backgrounds. The Freeholder said tonight she could not be with us because she is in Denver, Colorado and stranded out there due to the bad weather. She was in constant communication with Freeholder Cream’s office because she wanted so much to be here. She received a very prestigious award from the Philadelphia Sportswriters’ Association and that is why the article was written because they considered her to be an athlete who was the most courageous in the United States. Freeholder Cream said her mother is here with us tonight so that tells you a little bit about the caliber of parents that she has. The Freeholder said we decided to call her mother and ask her to stand in the place of her wonderful daughter. Freeholder Cream asked Mrs. Holmes to come forward. Freeholder Cream then read the Proclamation honoring April Holmes. Freeholder Cream said April Holmes is both the flower and the fruit of the African American Community who stands as a spectacular role model bringing pride to the entirety of her community, her County and her Country. Freeholder Cream thanked Mrs. Holmes for coming to be with the Freeholder Board tonight. Freeholder Cream said she has called her mother during the meeting and asked her mother to please express to everyone her feelings about always helping others. She believes in that so very much.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Freeholder Nash came forward and said one of the most important things that we do as Freeholders each month is recognize one person of the 2200 employees of the Camden County government that is deserving of Employee of the Month. Freeholder Nash said he has the honor tonight of presenting to everyone Camden County’s Employee of the Month. He said when you hear why, you’ll understand why she is getting this recognition. Freeholder Nash called upon Melissa Mitchell of the Parks Department to come forward with her family. Freeholder Nash said Melissa has been a Camden County employee for 24 years. He said she started when she was 19 years old. He said she actually spent the summers in 1978 and 1979 working as an intern for the Operations Department of the Parks Department. Freeholder Nash said she was hired full time in 1983 as a Clerk. During the last 24 years, she was promoted to Clerk Typist, Senior Clerk Typist and now the Principle Clerk Typist. He said over the years, her responsibilities have grown and grown. He said in addition to her typing duties, she manages the Parks’ Petty Cash fund, maintains the phone coverage schedule, orders all the office supplies for the office and maintains and manages all the personnel files. He said, but not only that for the past five years, one of the most important projects that we have through the Parks Department is our Employee’s Charitable Campaign - The United Way. She has managed that as well for the Parks Department. He said he is proud to say they have always exceeded their goals. Freeholder Nash said she is the co-coordinator of the Parks Department Clean-up Program for the past 12 years; that is the program where people volunteer their time, many times on the weekends to clean up the Parks. He said Melissa has coordinated that project for 12 years. She trains and supervises employees from various State-funded employment programs; those are the people that the State provides to us to answer the phones and serve as receptionist in the department. He said when the Parks Department Payroll Supervisor was out of the office on an extended emergency sick leave, Melissa jumped on the job and learned what to do and now heads up the County’s payroll records. He said most recently she is in charge of the Department’s Purchasing and Finance and all of that comes under the umbrella of what this amazing County employee does not only for the Parks Department but for all the citizens of Camden County. Freeholder Nash said for that we are so proud of Melissa. He then asked Melissa to introduce her family. Freeholder Nash then called upon Caren Fishman, Director of the Parks Department, to come forward to say a few words.

Ms. Fishman said it gives her great pleasure to be here tonight with Melissa and her family. Ms. Fishman said Melissa and she go way back. She said Melissa was her secretary in early 1980. At that time, Melissa’s father was the Park Commissioner and Caren said she worked for him. She said she has known Melissa’s family for over thirty years. Ms. Fishman said she would like to say one thing about Melissa and that is for the last couple of years she has taken over the Purchasing Department. She said it has never run more efficiently and we are so pleased and proud of you. She congratulated her.

Ms. Mitchell thanked the Freeholders and said it is an honor to receive this award. She thanked her fellow employees from the Purchasing & Finance Department who helped her greatly over the last year. She said it is very much appreciated.

Freeholder Nash then presented Melissa with a clock, recognizing her as Employee of the Month and also a Savings Bond. He congratulated her once again.

COMMUNITY AWARD

Freeholder Ripa called upon Mark Quinter and his family to come forward. Freeholder Ripa said that Mark Quinter grew up in Oaklyn and attended Oaklyn Public Schools and graduated from Collingswood High School. He is a member of the Oaklyn Fire Department and attended the County’s Fire Academy. At that time, he met his wife, Lori, who was not very thrilled with the idea of being married to a firefighter. He said that one night after they were married, Mark’s pager went off and Lori looked out their window and said to him that it looked like a huge fire. She told him to be careful and that she loved him. When Mark returned about 2:00 p.m. the next day, she had no doubt how much his firefighting meant to him. The Freeholder said Mark has been promoted up through the ranks and has now been elected Chief twice. Freeholder Ripa said Mark has a rule to always have smile on his face. Freeholder Ripa said that Mark likes to spend time with his son, Tyler, and brings him to the firehouse, where Tyler helps him on small projects. Freeholder Ripa then read the Proclamation.

Deputy-Director McDonnell said before getting into the business part of the meeting, Freeholder Cream has asked if she could have a moment for a special recognition she would like to make. He then called upon Freeholder Cream.
Freeholder Cream said she would like to introduce to everyone and present our new President of the Camden County College, Dr. Yanuzzi. Freeholder Cream asked Dr. Yanuzzi to come forward. Freeholder Cream said we are so happy to have him as our new President. Freeholder Cream said she believes everyone knows that Camden County College is our shining star. She said to Dr. Yanuzzi that we are happy to have you at that shining star to keep things going forward. Dr. Yanuzzi responded that he will!

Dr. Yanuzzi thanked the members of the Board of Trustees and their Chair, Kevin Halpern, for hiring him and for giving him their vote of confidence. He thanked all the Freeholders for their support of the College, not only in their formal role as Freeholders passing the budget and bond issues but also each one of them as he looks at the table here has had personal involvement with the College and has supported them in a variety of ways over the years. He said we are coming up to our 40th Anniversary, we began in the fall of 1967, celebrating 40 years of service to the County. He said we are hoping that many of you can come to the Campus. He said they are going to be doing a special outreach to Alumni. He said we would like to continue to serve as we have been for more than 30,000 citizens of Camden County each year (15,000 in credit courses; 15,000 in non-credit courses). He said there is still plenty of work to do and he is honored to be selected for the job to lead the College to do more for the people of the County. Once again, he thanked the Freeholders for their support. He said he looks forward to working with everyone in this era of shared services, even more closely with the Freeholders.

PROCLAMATION

Freeholder Ripa called upon Maureen Donnelly, Coordinator Safe Kids of Southern New Jersey to come forward. Freeholder Ripa said Valentine’s Day week is Child Passenger Safety Week, sponsored by Safe Kids of Southern New Jersey. He said for 20 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has designated this week that includes Valentine’s Day as Child Passenger Safety Week. Freeholder Ripa said it is important that we draw attention to the needs of children to be properly restrained while riding in vehicles. He said it is about more than having a car seat for your child; you have to have the right car seat, it has to be right for the child’s age, size and weight. It has to be installed correctly. The Freeholder said our own County Division of Highway Traffic Safety is having an event this Saturday at the Stratford Fire Station where we will have experts who will inspect your child’s seat as well as educational materials. He said in this we hope to reduce injury and even death resulting from auto accidents. The Freeholder then read the Proclamation. Freeholder Ripa congratulated Maureen.

The Deputy-Director said the next order of business is the First Reading of a Resolution, as follows:

FIRST READING - RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY OF
CAMDEN IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
AUTHORIZING A BOND ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING
$12,500,000.00 AND AUTHORIZING
$12,500,000.00 BONDS OR NOTES
OF THE COUNTY OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY FOR THE
ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION
AND IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN ROADS IN THE
CITY OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY AUTHORIZED TO BE
UNDERTAKEN BY THE COUNTY OF CAMDEN, NEW
JERSEY.
(PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 15,
2007, 7:00 P.M., PINE HILL BOROUGH HALL,
45 WEST SEVENTH AVENUE, PINE HILL, NEW
JERSEY 08021).

The Deputy-Director asked for a motion for adoption of the First Reading. Freeholder Nash made a motion to adopt on the First Reading with a second by Freeholder Cream and on roll call, all Freeholders present voted aye.

MINUTES

The Deputy-Director said the next order of business are the Minutes of our previous meeting and asked for a motion to accept the Minutes as presented. Freeholder Rodriguez made a motion to adopt the Minutes with a second by Freeholder Greco and on roll call:

AYE: CREAM, GRECO, RIPA, RODRIGUEZ, MCDONNELL
ABSTAIN: NASH
ABSENT: CAPPELLI

CORRESPONDENCE

The Deputy-Director then asked the Clerk of the Board if there was any correspondence. The Clerk answered that there was. The Clerk advised that a resident of Collingswood, Charles W. Long, Jr., wrote a note to Freeholder Nash thanking the County’s Parks Department and its Director, Caren Fishman. The Clerk then read the letter.

In his letter, Mr. Long said he would like to take this opportunity to compliment you on the excellent job your department has done in installing the new lighting along South Park Drive. He further went on to say that the intensity of the lighting is just right and the light standards are very attractive. He said with the lighting and the repaving of the footpath, you have done a great job in making the Park more user-friendly.

Deputy Director McDonnell congratulated Freeholder Nash.

COMPTROLLER

The Deputy-Director then asked for a motion to adopt the Comptroller’s Report. Freeholder Cream made a motion to adopt with a second by Freeholder Nash and on roll call, all Freeholders present voted aye.

The Deputy-Director announced that the next portion of this meeting will be opened to the public for discussion on the Resolutions that the Freeholders are going to be acting upon this evening. He said there will be another public session after the meeting, at which time the public can ask any questions they want regarding the business of the County or anything else they wish to talk about. The Deputy-Director said that he asks that this portion of the public hearing be limited to the Resolutions that the Freeholders are going to be voting on.

The Deputy-Director then declared the public hearing open.

There being no members of the public wishing to comment, Deputy-Director McDonnell asked for a motion to close the public hearing. Freeholder Nash made a motion to close the public hearing with a second by Freeholder Cream and all Freeholders present voted aye.

The Deputy-Director said that at our Caucus on Tuesday evening, the Board of Freeholders reviewed the resolutions to be acted upon tonight. He said it was at that time that the Board discussed items to be voted on and we will be voting on resolutions in blocks based on unanimous consent of the Freeholders.