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TOWNSHIP OF HAMILTON MEETING MINUTES

TOWNSHIP COUNCIL

President Kevin Meara Vice President Kelly Yaede

Council Members: David Kenny, Dennis Pone, and Edward Gore Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Municipal Building

Agenda Meeting – 6:32 PM Public Meeting Immediately Follows

The agenda as it appears was discussed by members of Council along with members of the Administration. Resolution 2e was removed during the agenda session. Resolution 3c was added during the agenda session. The approval of the April 24, 2012 executive session minutes was added during the agenda session. Statement of the President “THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD WITH THE BENEFIT OF PUBLIC NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT” ROLL CALL Council Members Present: David Kenny, Kelly Yaede, Edward Gore, Dennis Pone, and Kevin Meara Administration Present: Lindsay Burbage, Director, Department of Law John F. Ricci, Business Administrator Salute To The Flag Invocation Discussion General Powers of the Council: Section 2-103 Powers and Duties of President: Section 2-133 Minutes March 21, 2012 – Agenda and Public Meetings (DRAFT) April 24, 2012 – Executive session Communications Consent Agenda 2a. Resolution Establishing A Contract To Provide Catering Services For Hamilton’s Senior Center

Picnic With Rosa’s Restaurant & Pizzeria ($10,220.00) 2b. Resolution Establishing A One Year Contract With PVS Chemicals, Incorporated For The

Purchase Of Liquid Sodium Bisulfite For The Department Of Water Pollution Control ($38,010.00 Maximum)

2c. Resolution Establishing A Contract With Geo-Graf 1 For The Subsurface Geophysical

Investigation For New 13 KV Conduit For The Department Of Water Pollution Control ($14,260.00 Maximum)

2d. Resolution Establishing A Shared One Year Contract With Longo Electrical And Maul Electrical

For Heavy Electrical Equipment Repair - $100,000.00 Maximum And Rescinding Resolution No. 12-170

2e. Resolution Authorizing the Settlement Of Certain Workers’ Compensation Petitions (Michael

Shipp v. Township of Hamilton; $26,652.00)

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Consent Agenda cont’d 2f. Resolution Authorizing Execution Of An Escrow Agreement With The New Jersey Department

Of Community Affairs Designating PNC Bank As Escrow Agent For Hamilton Township’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund

2g. Resolution Authorizing Hamilton Township To Accept Funds From The State of New Jersey

Governor’s Council On Alcoholism And Drug Abuse And Authorizing The Proper Officials To Deposit Funds ($78,731.00) In The Proper Accounts For The Hamilton Township Municipal Alliance Committee On Alcoholism And Drug Abuse For The Period Of January 1, 2012 Through December 31, 2012

Resolutions 3a. Resolution Authorizing Amendment To Professional Services Agreement (11-325) With Birdsall

Services Group For The New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection Remedial Action Services For The Stockyard Closure At The Department Of Water Pollution Control Located At 300 Hobson Avenue (+$7,651.20)

3b. Resolution Authorizing Amendment To Professional Services Agreement (11-335) With Birdsall

Services Group For Additional Remedial Activities At The Former Nearpara Rubber Property Located At 1849 East State Street (+$39,500.00)

Ordinances 4a. 12-017 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances,

Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-28, Public Urination And Defecation

SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING

4b. 12-018 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances,

Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-29, Public Nudity

SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING

4c. 12-019 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances,

Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-30, Violent Disturbances

SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING

4d. 12-020 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances,

Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-31, Malicious Injury Or Destruction Of Property

SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING

4e. 12-021 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances,

Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Chapter 148, Vehicles And Traffic, Section 148-61, Bus Stops (Various Hamilton Township Roadways)

FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION

4f. 12-022 Ordinance To Exceed The Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits And To

Establish A CAP Bank (N.J.S.A. 40A: 4-45.14)

FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

CY12 MUNICIPAL BUDGET INTRODUCTION

5a. Resolution Authorizing The Municipal Clerk To Read The Calendar Year 2012 Municipal Budget Resolution By Title Only 5b. Resolution Of Introduction And Approval Of The Calendar Year 2012 Municipal Budget Comments from the Public Comments from the Council Adjournment: 7:28 PM

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TOWNSHIP OF HAMILTON MEETING MINUTES

TOWNSHIP COUNCIL

President Kevin Meara Vice President Kelly Yaede

Council Members: David Kenny, Dennis Pone, and Edward Gore Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Municipal Building

Public Meeting - 7:40 PM

Statement of the President “THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD WITH THE BENEFIT OF PUBLIC NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY THE OPEN PUBLIC

MEETINGS ACT” ROLL CALL Council Members Present: David Kenny, Kelly Yaede, Edward Gore, Dennis Pone, and Kevin Meara Administration Present: Lindsay Burbage, Director, Department of Law John F. Ricci, Business Administrator Salute To The Flag – Led by Council Vice-President Yaede. Invocation – Led by Councilman Gore. Discussion General Powers of the Council: Section 2-103 Powers and Duties of President: Section 2-133 Minutes On the motion of Mr. Kenny, seconded by Ms. Yaede; the following minutes in draft form were unanimously approved: March 21, 2012 – Agenda and Public Meetings (DRAFT) April 24, 2012 – Executive session Communications Consent Agenda On the motion of Ms. Yaede, seconded by Mr. Kenny; consent agenda items 2a through 2d and resolutions 2f through 2g were unanimously approved. 12-181 Resolution Establishing A Contract To Provide Catering Services For Hamilton’s Senior Center

Picnic With Rosa’s Restaurant & Pizzeria ($10,220.00) 12-182 Resolution Establishing A One Year Contract With PVS Chemicals, Incorporated For The

Purchase Of Liquid Sodium Bisulfite For The Department Of Water Pollution Control ($38,010.00 Maximum)

12-183 Resolution Establishing A Contract With Geo-Graf 1 For The Subsurface Geophysical

Investigation For New 13 KV Conduit For The Department Of Water Pollution Control ($14,260.00 Maximum)

12-184 Resolution Establishing A Shared One Year Contract With Longo Electrical And Maul Electrical

For Heavy Electrical Equipment Repair - $100,000.00 Maximum And Rescinding Resolution No. 12-170

12-185 Resolution Authorizing Execution Of An Escrow Agreement With The New Jersey Department

Of Community Affairs Designating PNC Bank As Escrow Agent For Hamilton Township’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Consent Agenda 12-186 Resolution Authorizing Hamilton Township To Accept Funds From The State of New Jersey

Governor’s Council On Alcoholism And Drug Abuse And Authorizing The Proper Officials To Deposit Funds ($78,731.00) In The Proper Accounts For The Hamilton Township Municipal Alliance Committee On Alcoholism And Drug Abuse For The Period Of January 1, 2012 Through December 31, 2012

Resolutions On the motion of Mr. Pone, seconded by Mr. Gore; resolutions 3a and 3b were unanimously approved in one vote. 12-187 Resolution Authorizing Amendment To Professional Services Agreement (11-325) With Birdsall

Services Group For The New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection Remedial Action Services For The Stockyard Closure At The Department Of Water Pollution Control Located At 300 Hobson Avenue (+$7,651.20)

12-188 Resolution Authorizing Amendment To Professional Services Agreement (11-335) With Birdsall

Services Group For Additional Remedial Activities At The Former Nearpara Rubber Property Located At 1849 East State Street (+$39,500.00)

12-189 Resolution Authorizing The Township Attorney To Prepare The Letter Addressed To Mayor

Bencivengo With Regard To His Duties In Accordance To The Code Of Ordinances Section 2-103

Mr. Gore moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Pone; unanimously approved after the following discussion: MR. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: Exactly what do you want from the Mayor in this letter? PRESIDENT MEARA: We’re looking for a sworn statement. Under Section 2-103 General Powers of the Council, we can require any municipal officer in its discretion to prepare a sworn statement regarding his official duties and the performance thereof. And otherwise to investigate the conduct of any department, office, agency, or township. Basically, in light of the recent events, that we’re asking him to comment on being able to perform his official duties. MR. CAPODANNO: But you know what he’s going to do, he’s going to say he’s performing his duties. In the Faulkner Act, I think it states that the Council can’t really do too much with the Mayor. And I don’t even think you can investigate the Mayor, could you? PRESIDENT MEARA: Yes, we can. MR. CAPODANNO: In the Faulkner Act, it states that? PRESIDENT MEARA: It’s any municipal officer. MR. CAPODANNO: Does that include the Mayor? COUNCILMAN GORE: You cannot remove the Mayor. MR. CAPODANNO: So you can investigate him, but you can’t remove him? PRESIDENT MEARA: Right. MR. DANIEL KEELEN, 4 Fisher Place: I’m not clear on exactly what this is requiring of the Mayor? Are you asking for a general statement or a detailed bullet item list? PRESIDENT MEARA: Right at this time, it’s just going to be a general statement that we’d like the Mayor on record stating that the recent events is not effecting the performance of him as Mayor, departments under him, anybody he manages. MR. KEELAN: Is there an action item that follows that if necessary?

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 PRESIDENT MEARA: What we had talked about up here should issues or events arise, that we have the ability to actually go into an investigative committee, require the Mayor come in front of Council, should it elevate to that extent. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. As we see, one week ago when we were here, we had no information. Now, at least two issues as we publically stated have come up which causes us to take a step further. MR. KEELAN: So it sets up the ability to be investigative. ORDINANCE - SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING 12-017 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances, Hamilton Township,

New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-28, Public Urination And Defecation

After the above ordinance had been read by title, the President declared the public hearing opened and asked if anyone wished to be heard concerning same. MR. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: is there an ordinance in place for any of this? COUNCILMAN KENNY: Just putting it in place. MR. CAPODANNO: This is new?

COUNCILMAN GORE: Yes, believe it or not. I’m the culprit, through the years and being public defender, we’ve had several instances where policemen attempted to rectify a situation where they caught someone doing this. And what they would do is charge them with ludeness under state law. Now, you may think a lot of things about people that do that in public. But they’re certainly not lude when they do it. They’re not doing it to arouse anyone else other than to relieve themselves. The problem crystalized recently and we had a lot of complaints at the Trenton Saint Patricks’ Day Parade of people performing this act. And also at Arbeiter Hall, we heard from some citizens a few weeks ago that people were urinating on a World War II Monument over on Franklin Avenue. Plus several of the police officers approached me indicating to me that they have caught people doing this. And then wanted to know, what can we do Mr. Gore because if we charge them with ludeness, back when you were public defender, you would defend them. And you quite rightly got them off because they’re not lude. And I said that I would, as a result of the input from the citizens put this ordinance in place. And we currently do not have an ordinance to deal with it. I drafted it and modeled it thanks to the Department of Law, on an ordinance currently in place in Seaside Heights. MR. CAPODANNO: Great idea because let me tell you why. I was in the City of New York when the teamsters when Julliani came in. And one of the things of how he started to strain out the city was with the petty crimes. It was urinating, public intoxication, all those crimes, previous to him were going on all over the City of New York. And what they did, they started to crack down on all them petty crimes. And one of the things I always said about Trenton was that I hope Hamilton enforces a lot of these petty crimes. Because that’s what’s going to keep Hamilton different from a lot of the big cities. So when I see something like this, I think it’s excellent. And anything else you can look into maybe that we don’t have on the books, you should really think about it. Because one of the things that keeps a community above some of the cities that don’t have a lot of this in place or they don’t really enforce it, is to make sure that if you have laws like this in place make sure they get enforced. COUNCILMAN GORE: This, Mr. Capodanno and the next three are what I call quality of life ordinances. And that’s one of the reasons that you indicated. A community starts to fall apart when people do some of the things that we’re trying to address here, and they’re not dealt with. Mayor Julliani had it absolutely right. That’s when they brought New York back up, when they started cracking down on these quality of life type issues. And I hope the police department uses the tools we’re now giving them to do that. And as an added bonus, since they’re ordinances, those people that are found guilty of them will pay the township the fines, and the fines will remain in the township rather than going to the state government.

MR. CAPODANNO: I’ll tell you it’s an excellent idea. But also in New York, what he did with the petty crimes like this, the quality of life crimes law was that when he brought them in, he started fingerprint them. And what he found out by bringing them in with these crimes that they never fingerprinted them for, that a lot of them had warrants, and there was a lot of other things in their background. And that’s how they kept a lot of the thugs off the street. There being no further comments, Mr. Kenny moved to close the public hearing and adopt, seconded by Ms. Yaede; unanimously approved.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 ORDINANCE - SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING 12-018 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances, Hamilton Township,

New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-29, Public Nudity

After the above ordinance had been read by title, the President declared the public hearing opened and asked if anyone wished to be heard concerning same. MR. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: What do you mean by public nudity, total nudity? COUNCILMAN GORE: It’s in the resolution. COUNCILMAN PONE: It’s pretty specific in the resolution. MR. CAPODANNO: People should know what it’s all about. COUNCILMAN KENNY: A person shall be found in a state of nudity when clothing or absence of clothing completely exposes to public view a person’s anus, genitals, pubic area, or female breasts. COUNCILMAN PONE: The reason I asked earlier is there an exception for breast feeding? In the case where moist women that breastfeed are, they cover. But I mean, I don’t think that should be part of this at all. And Mr. Gore assured me that’s an exception. COUNCILMAN GORE: You have to be over nine years old, there’s all kind of exceptions. MR. CAPODANNO: but I mean the breast part that means total nudity. COUNCILMAN GORE: Basically yeah. MR. CAPODANNO: A girl could walk around with a little hole? COUNCILMAN GORE: It’s got to be total bare totally. There being no further comments, Ms. Yaede moved to close the public hearing and adopt, seconded by Mr. Kenny; unanimously approved. ORDINANCE - SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING 12-019 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances, Hamilton Township,

New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-30, Violent Disturbances

After the above ordinance had been read by title, the President declared the public hearing open and asked if anyone wished to be heard concerning same. There being no response, Mr. Pone moved to close the public hearing and adopt, seconded by Mr. Gore; unanimously approved. ORDINANCE - SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING 12-020 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances, Hamilton Township,

New Jersey, Chapter 86, Miscellaneous Provisions And Offenses, Section 86-31, Malicious Injury Or Destruction Of Property

After the above ordinance had been read by title, the President declared the public hearing open and asked if anyone wished to be heard concerning same. There being no response, Mr. Gore moved to close the public hearing and adopt, seconded by Mr. Pone; unanimously approved. ORDINANCE - FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION 12-021 Ordinance Amending And Supplementing The Code Of Ordinances, Hamilton Township,

New Jersey, Chapter 148, Vehicles And Traffic, Section 148-61, Bus Stops (Various Hamilton Township Roadways)

Mr. Kenny made a motion to approve the above ordinance on first reading, seconded by Ms. Yaede; unanimously approved.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 ORDINANCE - FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION 12-022 Ordinance To Exceed The Municipal Budget Appropriation Limits And To Establish A

CAP Bank (N.J.S.A. 40A: 4-45.14) Ms. Yaede made a motion to approve the above ordinance on first reading, seconded by Mr. Kenny; unanimously approved.

CY12 MUNICIPAL BUDGET INTRODUCTION

12-190 Resolution Authorizing The Municipal Clerk To Read The Calendar Year 2012 Municipal

Budget Resolution By Title Only Mr. Pone moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Gore; unanimously approved. Appropriations within Caps for municipal purposes: $ 85,891,663.02 Appropriations excluded from Caps for Municipal purposes: $ 10,653,031.00 Local School District Purposes for Municipal Budget: Total General Appropriations Excluded from Caps: $ 10,653,031.00 Reserve for uncollected taxes: $ 1,300,000.00 Total General Appropriations: $ 97,844,694.02 Less Anticipated Revenues other than Property Tax (surplus, miscellaneous, and receipts from delinquent taxes): $ 35,966,336.39 Difference: Amount to be raised by taxes for the support of the local Municipal purposes including reserve for uncollected taxes: $ 58,840,987.63 Minimum Library Tax $ 3,037,370.00 Summary of Revenues, Surplus Anticipated $ 7,000,000.00 Misc. Revenues Anticipated $ 28,052,508.48 Receipts from Delinquent Taxes $ 913,827.91 Amount To Be Raised by Taxation for Municipal Purposes $ 58,840,987.63 Amount To Be Raised by Taxation Minimum Library Levy $ 3,037,370.00 Total Revenues $ 97,844,694.02 PRESIDENT MEARA: Mr. Ricci, if I can ask you to bear with me. I know you did an explanation in the agenda session, but I see some members of the public come in that may not be aware of the process that once we do the introduction, what happens. So if you could just address that please? MR. RICCI: As I believe the clerk read a couple minutes ago, there will be a public hearing on June 6th. The budget will be advertised accordingly. The budget now goes to the State Division of Local Government Services which is part of the Department of Community Affairs, for their review to insure that all the revenues that are listed there can be listed there. That in fact we have received them in the past or will be receiving them this year through grants, and that the budget is in balance. Occasionally, they will suggest some budget amendments on some technical areas back to us. And you would consider those at the time the budget is posted for adoption. PRESIDENT MEARA: As we said in our budget w0orkshops, it’s been our experience that pretty much once we submit it to them, there’s a good chance it will come back the same way. MR. RICCI: Yes, and the budget will be not only advertised, it will be available in the Clerk’s office. It will be at the library and it will be up on the township’s web page tomorrow as well. PRESIDENT MEARA: I know that we have the actual resolution below, but is there any Councilmembers who’d like to address the reading of the budget? DANIEL KEELAN, 4 Fisher Place: When this goes to the DCA, does that mean that that budget can still be amended and the expenditure amount reduced? When it went from the board of education site to the county, it was approved for that expenditure amount. The only thing the board of education was told that they can do was reappropriate within the amount that was approved. MR. RICCI: They’re a different budget law and budget process. Until a budget is adopted on final reading, it can be amended.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 PRESIDENT MEARA: It has been my experience; I’ve actually seen it done. If there’s major amendments is done to it, it has to come back and then be resubmitted. MR. KEELAN: When it goes to the DCA, DCA checkmarks it, you can still not go forward with the tax increase. PRESIDENT MEARA: Absolutely. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: How much surplus is in this budget? MR. RICCI: We’re appropriating $7 million, which leaves us a balance of approximately $1.9 million. MR. CAPODANNO: So you have a balance of $1.9 million. MR. RICCI: It’s a little less than last year’s. MR. CAPODANNO: That’s pretty low. What is your balance of surplus in the sewer budget? MR. RICCI: Just over $3 million. MR. CAPODANNO: Over $3 million? MR. RICCI: Yes, $3,016,000. And probably your next question is how much of that are we using, $1.1 million. MR. CAPODANNO: Figuring about $2 million left, right? MR. RICCI: yes. MR. CAPODANNO: Yeah, that’s pretty low too. Because if you had a lot, you’d know what I’d say. How much overtime’s in this budget? MR. RICCI: It’s approximately $1.7 million, bulk of which would be in police and public works. Police are actually more than half. PRESIDENT MEARA: Roughly $900,000 verses $800-something. COUNCILMAN KENNY: But the overtime hours have gone down over the past few years. But of course, it’s coming down, but your wages are up. MR. CAPODANNO: I was going to ask how does this compare to your other budgets when it comes to overtime. MR. RICCI: It actually is a bit less. Even in dollar amounts it’s a bit less than a few years ago. COUNCILMAN KENNY: Overall spending is down $1.7 million. MR. CAPODANNO: Is everything finalized with the state when it comes to municipal aid? MR. RICCI: That’s a good question. The state budget is not adopted yet, and probably won’t be until late June as it normally is. And there’s a lot of discussion going on, charges being led by the league of municipalities concerning the energy receipts. There could be some additional money coming to us. But it probably won’t be until… Remember the state fiscal year starts in July and runs to next year. So if it comes to us, it’s going to be in our next calendar year budget, not this year. So the state probably won’t let us anticipate any more money this year than we already have in there. MR. CAPODANNO: What I wanted to say is I came here today really to look at everything and see what’s going on. As a former Councilman I think that I have a little bit of knowledge of how everything operates. I feel the township is in excellent shape. I’m not saying this because I’m a fan of the Council and the Mayor. I’m saying this as a citizen. I don’t care about the Democratic Party, what they think. I watched you do the agenda, you did it excellent. There was a lot of things on the agenda, a lot of ordinances, new laws. You did the budget; you answered a lot of questions about the mayor. He did an excellent; to me the government is running great. Right now, if I detect that it’s not running great, I’m going to say it. But right now, I think you’re doing your job. I think everything is going great. In fact, most of what’s happened has nothing to do with our government. Hamilton Township has been running pretty good in the last four years. And it looks like it’s continuing to run pretty decent in the next four years.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 MR. DANIEL KEELAN, 4 Fisher Place: Here’s my question, and an urging on you. When I looked at what was charged against the 2008 budget, that amount came to roughly $82.1 million. Today, you’re talking about a budget of $97.8 million. So if I do my math right, that’s $15.7 million difference. I want to know, of that amount, what is related to mandated spending, contracted wage increases, benefits, et cetera? And how much of that is nonmandated or what others would call discretionary? PRESIDENT MEARA: What I will tell you Dan is we will ask the administration. Right now, I hear a difference of opinion as far as numbers. But we will ask the administration to do the best job they can to look at the difference and give us the Council a sense of where the increases have? I can guess because during the budget workshops, there’s been discussions. But we know that as was indicated earlier, while the work force is done, wages are up, pensions are up, medical is up, but I’m going to leave that to the administration to give us their best sense of where the increases are because the budget is certainly higher. MR. KEELAN: My numbers indicate, and this is what UI would like to have checked is that there’s approximately $10 million of that $15.7 is due to mandates through the state or wage increases, benefits, et cetera. So that leaves about $5.7 million in increased spending in nonmandated areas. And that’s a term that I use loosely, when I say nonmandated. As a resident of the township, I would like to know what that differential really is, line item by line item. The budget that you put up for public viewing, talks about budget highlights in other expenditure areas. It talks about decreases, and it talks about increases in specific areas of spending. But those line items do not address for example, if one department has $1 million in other expenditures, allocated in this budget. It does not detail for public view what that million dollars incorporates. Is it a new scanning system for the Clerk’s office? I don’t know and I believe residents should know what the details of those other spendings are. And what the in $15.7 million? MR. RICCI: Mr. President, as you know, we include that information in the binder that we give the Council. And that was available on our web site of what the major increases or decreases are in each line item. And frankly, to go back and compare this budget in detail with a budget from four years ago, is an exercise that you can assign to some public administration class to perform. I’m not going to do it. MR. KEELAN: I’m not asking for that Mr. President. What I’m asking for is to understand what the details are of the other expenditure items for the 2012 budget are in detail. Their highlights presented in the publically available information on the web site, at the municipal clerk’s office, and at the library which I have procured myself and looked at. I am asking roughly the $15.7 million difference in the in the 2008 budget… MR. RICCI: If you’re asking me to go back and do a comparison to 2008, and I’m not going to do that. I don’t have the time or the inclination to do it. If you want to do it, go ahead. MR. KEELAN: All I’m asking for is a $15.7 million, this is mandated, and that’s why it’s up. And this part is not mandated. I’m not asking for the detail. MR. RICCI: I’ll remind the Council that any information that we have, we make available. I’m not going to undertake a project for Mr. Keelan to satisfy his desire to know something about a budget from 2008. It’s a waste of my time and the staff’s time. MR. KEELAN: It’s a waste of 1.8% increase in taxes you can’t justify. MR. RICCI: No, it’s not. COUNCILMAN GORE: Let’s talk about where our increase in costs are. Didn’t we not hear that some of the money was due to fuel increases. How much more is that? COUNCILMAN KENNY: we’re up it was $350,000. COUNCILMAN GORE: I’d like to find out from perhaps some of the opposition party members why the price of gasoline is $3.80 a gallon? Secondly, how about health care benefits? What’s the increase in that? MR. RICCI: It was about $400,000. COUNCILMAN GORE: Didn’t we not determine that most if not all of that was due to mandates from the federal government, Obama Care? Particularly one item where we have to cover employee’s children until age 26? How much is that, about half of the increase right there. and we can go into more detail as we get into the budget to see exactly how much was mandated and how much was discretionary spending. But there’s two items right there that are large part of the increase, and the need for a tax increase.

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COUNCILMAN PONE: I would add Mr. President if we’re talking about calendar year 2008, there was also about a $13 million hole based on the $14.7 million deficit left behind by the nonbudget of Mayor Gilmore. We’re now in a calendar year, so if you’re talking about fiscal 2008, it’s one thing. If you’re talking about calendar year 2008, there’s there from the money that didn’t exist from the previous administration. Roughly $13 million that was addressed a half a year or so later because there was no budget for the first six months. MR. RICCI: And as some of you will recall, we made some changes in how we accounted for things, back then. Because the previous administration kind of had expenses off the books, they weren’t showing them at all. COUNCILMAN PONE: Like 25 payrolls instead of 26. MR. RICCI: And not showing the Uniform Construction Code office as a line item in the budget, and we had to add it. These are the things that happened. But again it’s four, five years ago. What’s the point in going back and addressing that now? And not compare a budget from this year to last year. COUNCILMAN PONE: Mr. President, I agree with Mr. Ricci, on this one. And usually, I’ll be as open as I want. Mr. Keelan can look back at that stuff all he wants to. But I believe it’s political, frankly. If we’re looking at 2008 to today, there’s no good purpose. Any one of us can do it, we went through hell in 2008, Mr. Keelan. Frankly, I don’t want to go back to that hell. PRESIDENT MEARA: I was understanding the question to be more of what is covered in our budget message year after year. That should be available in the library. Where we highlight usually what increases were. That’s what I was taking it from. COUNCILMAN KENNY: I was going to say the hard part is 95% of our budget is almost nondiscretionary for us. And it may be higher than that. Our budget is probably 70% more is salaries and wages. Then you got benefits. We buy police cars every year. Those types of things, and Mr. President, you had asked for a scenario on what can we do to eliminate $1.8 million. It was lay off ten cops, I’m not willing to do that. I don’t think any of us want to have more layoffs; we had to go through that. And in fact, we’re eliminating fifteen positions in this budget from last year’s through attrition. And I guess we’ve eliminated thirty or forty before that? MR. RICCI: About fifty. COUNCILMAN KENNY: so the workforce is going to be down 10% from what it was four years ago. There’s only so much you can cut. We’d all love to keep it flat, but I’m not willing to say why not have fewer police officers? We’re running on a skeleton crew throughout many departments in this township. So I’m not prepared. COUNCILMAN PONE: I would propose to Mr. Keelan what departments, positions, jobs would he like to cut get this 1.8% tax increase down to zero? Glad to hear it, if you have some suggestions. MR. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: Any economic development coming into this town in the next weeks or months that could add revenue to the budget? MR. RICCI: Well, no it won’t add any money to the revenue, because they don’t go in the books until later in the year. We can’t and we can anticipate it. MR. CAPODANNO: Alright, so later on I’ll ask you. MR. RICCI: Don’t come on and they’ll in effect create surplus. 12-190A Resolution Of Introduction And Approval Of The Calendar Year 2012 Municipal Budget Mr. Gore moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Pone; unanimously approved. PRESIDENT MEARA: Madam Clerk, I just want to say that I’ve struggled with this budget, and not because of budget that the administration put together or that Council worked on. It’s just we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. Certainly, if some things went our way, we wouldn’t be talking about a tax increase. And we did look at different scenarios, which would have included using surplus, reducing overtime. Some of those things are a third rail. However, as we go into this introduction, I’m certainly going to take the time in between now and the public hearing to continue to look at it, hope that the state comes through, so that we aren’t looking at a tax increase. But at this point, I’m willing to cast my vote in the affirmative for the introduction, and then see where we are at the public hearing.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Comments from the Public MR. ANTONIO C. GAMBINO, 1003 Hughes Drive: I want to start out saying that it does not surprise me, it does not shock me, the allegations against the Mayor. I see a lot of people in here tonight. And some of the people that I see in here normally I come to all these meetings and it appears to me that they only come out when they want something or when something’s in crisis in this town. And right now, we have a big crisis in this town, and it involves the Mayor. I have two questions I want to ask and then I got a couple more questions I want to ask. To me, I refer them as political robots because that’s what they are. I see Ms. Carella out here. Never said a word about nothing in the whole campaign when she ran for Mayor. And everybody knew what the mayor was doing in this town. First question I have, if the mayor takes a leave of absence, is he going to be paid? And the second question that I have is who’s going to pay for his legal bills? Are the taxpayers going to pay for his legal bills? PRESIDENT MEARA: Under the way our government is set up, he is entitled to a leave of absence. And all the salaries of the township are paid through tax dollars. MR. GAMBINO: including his legal fees. PRESIDENT MEARA: No, his legal fees… unless it was a township related incident, that would be different, but not in this case. But what I will do is ask Mr. Burbage to respond. MR. BURBAGE: As far as the legal fees Mr. President, this charge has been filed in US District Court against Mayor Bencivengo, apparently has absolutely nothing to do with the running of the government of Hamilton Township. Therefore, any legal fees that he may incur for a personal defense, is just that, a personal defense. It would not be legal even for Hamilton Township to pay for the Mayor’s attorney’s fees. The Mayor, my understanding is has retained a private attorney with private personal funds, and that will continue. As far as any information that my office or anyone else in this building knows, that this had absolutely nothing to do with the color of his authority as Mayor while conducting any type of Hamilton Township business. And therefore, his attorney’s fees are his personal tab. PRESIDENT MEARA: Mr. Ricci, can I just ask you to comment on leave of absence? Someone else in the audience may be asking the same thing. But as far as our township policy regarding leave of absence. MR. RICCI: The Mayor is a different type of position than all the other township employees most of whom are covered by union contracts. And those contracts specify different reasons for leaves of absence. And some can be with pay, and some can be without pay depending on the amount of time that they’ve accumulated. But the Mayor is a special case, as you’ve heard earlier simply because he’s an elected official. He can’t be removed from office and he continues in office as long as he is serving. PRESIDENT MEARA: So when we’re talking about leave of absence that would be that he wouldn’t be coming to the office so to speak. It’s because he’s an elected official, he’s not covered by any contract. It wouldn’t be impacted. MR. RICCI: That’s my understanding.

MR. BURBAGE: The mayor has the ability through the New Jersey statutes to request a leave of absence. And we went through those scenarios last Tuesday. He can step down temporarily, and can select a replacement for himself during the period of his leave of absence. That person would have to be either Mr. Ricci, a department director, or Mrs. Gore right on queue. That leave of absence can only go on for ninety days as a paid leave of absence. It doesn’t have to be a paid leave of absence. And after ninety days, then this body would have to make a decision whether if you had decided to pay him in the first place, You would no longer be allowed to pay him. The statute only allows for him to take a paid leave of absence for ninety days. So after that, he can continue to take a leave, but you would be able to pick a replacement for the Mayor even under a temporary basis. And I don’t know if that answers the question, I don’t want to get into the whole thing. PRESIDENT MEARA: No, that’s fine. MR. GAMBINO: you know, like you said, there’s been a lot of rumors all over town. And what I find very hard to believe up here with all these rumors going all over town that the Council did not know anything that was going on, absolutely nothing with the Mayor. Because I’m going to tell you how the FBI operates because I worked for them for ten years. They would not have arrested this man unless it was something more serious. They’re not going to arrest somebody for a $12,000.00 bribe. See, let me tell you something. You, for the FBI to come after you seriously, you’ve had to either threaten someone, or attempted to murder someone. I’m telling you that they would have never ever came after this man.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Now I’ve been hearing rumors all over town that this man was going in and out of businesses and trying to extort money from different business owners. And you tell me, that you don’t know anything about it up here? Somebody made a statement in the papers saying that we knew that the Mayor was out of control. And we tried to reel him back in. COUNCILMAN KENNY: Mr. Gambino, I feel I need to respond. I never heard that rumor that you’re talking about. And I can assure you that no one on this Council ever heard of the FBI investigation. If you know about the FBI, they’re very good at keeping secrets. They neither confirm nor deny an investigation ever. And until they release information such as with the Mayor… MR. GAMBINO: Listen, the FBI came into this town for a reason. And one of the reasons is federal money. Let me tell you something, they’ve had the documents before you even get them subpoenaed going out the door coming on the 3rd, they’ve had them. They just want to catch some more people in some more lies basically. COUNCILMAN GORE: I’m compelled to ask this speaker and all future speakers to address the chair and not individual Councilmen. It’s contrary to the rules of this body. MR. GAMBINO: I find it hard to believe that this Council didn’t know anything. I’ve been coming to these meetings. As a matter of fact, with Reliable Wood over the ecological center. And you know what, here’s another point in case. Everything that the Mayor threw at you, you passed You put your seal of approval on it.

MR. BRUCE REED, 4 Mae Drive: My topic is not related to what most people are here for. And I would have no problems coming back later if that’s what you prefer.

PRESIDENT MEARA: You have the floor.

MR. REED: I spoke to Mr. Burbage’s office late last week just to find out the status of the state’s hearing, the second part of the hearing. According to Mr. Burbage’s office, the next hearing for the state liquor board isn’t until May 24th. I don’t know if that’s changed or not, but that’s what I was told May 24th. Based upon that date, and the time frame that the judge would have and then the director would have, it seems to me very unlikely that a decision would be made by the state liquor board prior to the next June Council Liquor Board meeting for Rare Partners. So I’m requesting, and unfortunately the timing is not great; I understand that. But can the Council through the Clerk’s office send letters with a summary like they did last October to the residents who are being affected by the issue. So they are aware of what’s going on. And that come June, and I don’t know if there is a date set for June when the local Council will get together again. If that date has been set. But if we could alert the residents who came last June, to the status that it really hasn’t been resolved yet. It’s still up in the air. That those residents could come back in June and speak again. Because we’re in limbo, we’re still in limbo. This is three years now, and I’m concerned it’s going to go even further.

PRESIDENT MEARA: We understand that.

MR. BURBAGE: Mr. Reed is correct, as I indicated the last time we discussed this, this particular judge that this is assigned to has an extremely busy trial docket. And the petitioner in this particular matter requested two days of trial. And this was the earliest time the judge had available. And Mr. Reed’s again correct, that in all likelihood, the final decision… Because once the administrative law judge makes his decision, he then forwards that to the director of the ABC. And he then has I believe thirty days in which to determine whether he’ll accept the judge’s ruling or change it. However, there will be, and that’s the irony of this, is that the Manor’s liquor license will be up for renewal prior to getting a final decision on their appeal of last year’s liquor license which had conditions placed on it. However, I think it’s obvious that before we get a final decision on that, it would probably behoove the Council to make the same conditions as you did last year. But that’s up to you all to determine. But I would think that the Clerk’s office certainly could without question do a summary. Give them a little bit of an update, all of the people in the surrounding neighborhood, as to the procedural aspects of what’s been going on with the likelihood of the time line that we have in place. And the date of the ABC hearing, should they wish to come and comment. PRESIDENT MEARA: Madam Clerk, have you looked at that date yet? MRS. EILEEN GORE: Currently, the applications are out there, we’ve only received one so far. While that’s going on, I have requested incident reports from the police department for all our liquor licenses. We’re currently reviewing them as we did last year. If we find that magic number such as five or four incidents we certainly get additional information from the police department and then we make the recommendations to the Council to discuss as to whether or not you want to impose special conditions.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 And we would just go by the same procedure this year. But it was my intent to request that you do impose those conditions with this license term that’s coming up. PRESIDENT MEARA: Bruce, with that information, are you saying that letters out just to make the residents in the area aware or are you looking to be able to come in and comment officially in a Council meeting? MR. REED: Last October, the Clerk’s office sent out letters to certain individuals who spoke. That’s all I was looking for, just to update them. Because really, it hasn’t been resolved. So I think it’s fair to those people who were communicated to once, to follow up with them. If they choose to come, they do. If they don’t, they don’t. PRESIDENT MEARA: I’m certain that we can do that. and we could potentially even consider having a discussion item on our agenda, should the timing not work out properly. COUNCILMAN PONE: Mr. Burbage, if the liquor license comes up for renewal prior to the judge’s decision, and we put on the same conditions that we did last year. My understanding is that the business would still be able to operate without the conditions because they’re still appealing the decision, and they’d probably appeal it again, I assume. Or would they have to appeal it again, I guess? MR. BURBAGE: You’re right to a certain extent, what they would have to do is the license for 11 and 12, would be expired. So the conditions that are placed on the license for 12-13, if they did not appeal them, and asked the court to stay the imposition of the conditions pending the appeal, then they would just automatically go into effect. I don’t want to practice law for their attorney, but obviously if they’ve gone this far with the appeal for this year’s license, they certainly will appeal next year’s. COUNCILMAN KENNY: So we’ll just be chasing our tails still? MR. BURBAGE: Until the decision’s rendered. If we were to get a decision from the judge validating the conditions that were put on last year’s, that would automatically validate the one for 12-13. COUNCILMAN KENNY: Okay, that’s what I was thinking. Bruce, have there been any nights out there that there’s been problems? MR. REED: I’m not aware if they’re open at this point with the weather. COUNCILMAN KENNY: The weather has been pretty warm some nights. MR. REED: They were supposed to open on the 25th, but there was forties and fifties at night, so I don’t believe they are, but I don’t know. And to that comment, I’m hopeful that the Council is not going to just look at recent events when they make their decision. I would hope that they would look at the entire two , three years, the residents’ complaints, the Bordentown Police Department, the Hamilton Township Police Department. Not just the month or two before the liquor license is up again, when they’re going to pave their best. Because I know what the repercussions could be. So I’m hopeful that you would look at it as a whole and not just as a snapshot. PRESIDENT MEARA: I’m pretty confident Bruce that everything will be taken into consideration. I mean, you have situations where someone takes over an establishment. So there’s reason to believe that some things could change. So when we look and we consider is there a reason to believe things will change, we’re going to be looking at everything. And if there’s nothing significant that would influence us that way… AUGUST SCOTTO, Mark Twain Drive: It’s very puzzling. I’m a Constitutionist, I don’t find people guilty until it’s proven. One thing that I know is that a lot of rumors are being developed by mentally ill people.

And what they do is use any excuse to get out and look good to the crooks. And here’s one right now. Nobody knows who that one person is who put this document in against the Mayor. It’s just a lot of innuendo, oh it must be this one. No, I heard it was that one. It’s all up in the air. Yet everyone has got all kinds of things going on in their mind. But when we have a real document, to back up everything. That is what should be listened to. And like for instance, our former Mayor, he committed things that they got records of, not some people getting up and talking about it. He left this township in hock for about $16 million. And he didn’t put up a budget that he’s supposed to put up a proposed budget. That’s against the law. He should have been put in jail for doing that. And where’s that money? Why didn’t they put him in jail for that money that’s missing? Our money, not some guy down the street. Our money is missing. And then we have a governor who played games too, Corzine. When he left, there was about ten or twelve billion dollars missing. The governor that’s in there now, Christie, tried to overcome that. Like these guys tried to overcome what the previous Mayor did. We work differently.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 That’s what we should be doing, get the facts before we say this, that, or the other. And find out why the legal authorities didn’t do anything to help the people from the two previous people with a Mayor here and the governor there who was missing with money. You work any job, and if you quit, and there’s money missing, you go to jail. Why didn’t those guys go to jail for the missing money? It was our money that’s missing. This is what gets me, then to come up here and talk about, this, that, the other. Look at that, he did that, no he did that. Use your mentality not political stuff. JOHN KROSCHWITZ, 14 Mae Drive: Given the gravity of the charges in this unprecedented scandal, where the integrity of our town is at stake, several of you much to be commended asked the Mayor to take a leave of absence. The Mayor has defied Council and is back working. Though it is difficult to see how much work can be accomplished, working under this cloud. His ability to govern has been forever compromised. Given that, under the circumstances, now Council must ask Council to resign. Now, I know what you were talking about before. You can dress us up in legalese all you want. But you have a moral imperative to act on this. If you refuse to ask the Mayor to resign, you’re negligent in your responsibility of your office and to the people of Hamilton Township, all the taxpayers. The illness will be on you and they’ll be no absolution for it. Justice needs to be swift to be affective. This shouldn’t be tied up. The people need the answers, this is tied up not just the municipal government, but the school board as well. Not just the tip of the iceberg I think we’re seeing there.

So failure to act on this moral imperative, you fail to do that, you should all resign.

CONNIE SILAKOWSKI, 16 Melody Court: I’m very proud to say that I’m here as a volunteer with the citizens campaign. And that’s a nonpartisan group that empowers citizens like myself to exercise a no blame approach to addressing pressing civic issues within their community. I am here tonight to urge you to adopt one of the most important constrictive proposals in the Citizens Campaign tool kit. And that’s the ordinance for the best price insurance contracting. This is the very ordinance that we proposed to the school board on March 28th.

The recent news concerning the federal probe in Hamilton has shown a spotlight on the need to

increase the transparency and accountability. And how our towns and our school districts retain their insurance brokers and how we get insurance coverage for our employees. Current state law gives our elected officials broad discretion in awarding these multimillion dollar contracts. And we are seeing in the case of the Hamilton School board the lack of requirements or standards creates a fertile ground for mischief. I would like to commend the township for already using a competitive process. The model ordinance I am proposing tonight which is the best price insurance contracting would build on the selection of brokers. It would also require the township to hire the broker exclusively on a flat fee basis. Thereby, eliminating any conflicts of interest and insuring that the broker is working within the township’s best interest at heart. This is different from the current practice in most towns where the broker is designated by a resolution. But is paid their commission by the insurance companies. In addition to establishing the competitive process for the brokers, the model ordinance requires that the broker solicit at least three quotes for each line of insurance coverage, including the state health benefits plan and any regional joint insurance funds. This will insure that the broker presents to you a full plate of options, and incentives private carriers to submit more competitive proposals. Some municipalities and school districts have already adopted our proposal and have gained or are projecting substantial savings. Cherry Hill for example, their school board adopted a recommendation of our Citizens Campaign to consider competitive alternatives toward their current carrier and found that they can save over $6 million by switching plans, in this case, to the state health employee benefit plan. Recently, the New Jersey state controller found that four New Jersey local governments could save over $12 million per year if they selected the state plan over the plan they currently have. Further, the controller said that if all municipalities that are not currently participating in the plan did, they would save over $100 million collectively per year. That information is again just for informational purposes only. Our model resolution does not require that the township convert to the state plan, a regional plan or any particular carrier. Rather it provides that a best practice process is in place to make sure that we get the best information and the best choices available to make the best economic an quality decisions for the constituents in this town. I also would like to make clear that in recommending this ordinance, we’re not saying that you haven’t received diligent broker services in the past or that you aren’t currently obtaining the lowest cost insurance that you’ve agreed to provide to your employees. The ordinance will provide important safeguards to protect both taxpayers and employees and it will enable you our elected officials to demonstrate that you are managing the insurance procurement process using the best practices and full transparency, especially in light of the circumstances that are taking place in this township right now.

I’ve passed out copies there of the model ordinance, a model RFP for hiring the brokers and a legal memo that was prepared by our Citizens Campaign law and policy task force. And I respectfully request that you put this ordinance up for first introduction at the next Council meeting. PRESIDENT MEARA: Connie, I want to thank you. For all your community service in the past. And we’ll certainly consider it what you’re giving us. But I also want to thank you for recognizing the work

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that we’ve done on our insurance. I think it was in 2008 after we came in and we actually did a broker review. I think there may have been four to six different insurance plans that we looked at. I think initially, we saved about a million dollars by going with the one’s we went. And obviously, over time, we want to continue to look at it. But as you’re campaign came to light, it was actually probably during our budget process and we posed the question to Mr. Ricci about the state plan. As you know, our insurance is part of contracted negotiations. And anything that happens will happen during those negotiations. But one of the things that was pointed out, was that should we change anything, it would have to be equal to or greater than what is presently being offered. And if I’m recalling correctly, the state plan was not. But I appreciate you giving this. The administration will have a copy of it, we have been following what you’ve been doing. We want to commend you, and certainly we all know that if there’s one thing about government, there’s room for improvement. And we want to complement you on the work you’re doing. MRS. SILAKOWSKI: Thank you Mr. President, I just want to reiterate again that I’m not condoning or pushing for that state health plan; simply providing information on savings that can be attained by going that route. Again, I think it’s about getting the best pricing and it’s about transparency. Especially given the climate in this township today. The school board had an opportunity to pass this a couple of weeks ago. I think hind sight is 20/20, I bet you they’re wishing right now that they had adopted it. You have in front of you a great opportunity to lead the charge in Mercer County. And I just ask that you let me know what you decide so that hopefully I could be at the next meeting to watch this go through. Thank you. COUNCILMAN PONE: I just want to add, Connie, I know you’re careful not to do it, but a lot of the residents get confused about this issue with Mayor Bencivengo. I just want to let everybody know that again as far as municipal government goes, we’ve been very, very, very diligent about our insurance plans, our prescription plans, our broker fees. In fact, even prior to this administration getting here, Mr. Kenny, myself, and Mr. Goodwin, we reduced the broker fees. We saved about $600,000.00 on prescription drug plan, before this administration even existed. So we’ve been aware of this, we’ve done a very good job. Again, I need as I did earlier, when we kind of get lumped into this issue. This Council and this administration have been incredibly diligent about that. And as a result, I think we do, and we’ll read your ordinance over. And if it’s better, wonderful, I’ll support it. But we do a good job, so I just want that to be clear. BILL KENNY, Azalea Way: What brought me out tonight is this so-called crisis. But I really don’t find the staff a crisis of government right now. There is a crisis of leadership. But I’ve dealt with the township over the past two weeks for my business. And I found that the township has been very thorough and efficient, and I had absolutely no problems. That dealing dealt with a building permit that I needed to obtain. I also called Hamstat and was handled very quickly and efficiently.

I want to back up about three weeks to before any of this stuff broke. I mean, everything was fine in the township. In the time being, I have not found a hard right or left rutter. Things are still continuing to my satisfaction. And it’s very sad and very unfortunate that this has happened. I’m going to tell you, I understand that the Council has been broadsided just like the residents of the township. And what’s really annoying is that this all had to deal with the board of education. Now over the years I’ve had contact with prior administrations complaining about the board of ed. I know there’s a very definitive patrician that exists between the Mayor, the township, the board of education, and the town Council as well. I can understand that you were broad sided because you are supposed to have blinders to anything that that entity is involved with. Unfortunately, ever since this broke, I find crisis situations being whipsawed more by many of the residents, and particularly the media has jumped on this.

What I’m seeing is almost a reversal of history. I’m looking back 2,000 years to the days of Pontius Pilot, where the call is to crucify him. And actually, not only to crucify the Mayor, but even a call to crucify the Council which has done nothing. You really have been removed from this.

Coming forward, let’s look back ten years. I mean, the big scary FBI has shown up and has implemented this. I just want to point out that the FBI is not the hear all and end all of everything. Ten years ago, when the Anthrax occurred at the Hamilton Post Office, the FBI came and investigated it. Who did they go after, initially, Steven Hattfield. And they found him as a person of interest, they destroyed his career. He was found to be not guilty when he actually rose up and filled the FBI and wound up I believe with a settlement of over $5 million. When they couldn’t pin it on him, because the FBI will find their man whether the right one or the wrong one, they went after Bruce Ivins. And I kind of have a little bit of a connection with Bruce Ivins. And they drove him to suicide. Once he killed himself that was now their man.

Anyway, I want to caution the Council and the citizens of Hamilton Township against any rush to judgment. Any knee jerk reaction, things are going to drive up our township costs by additional investigations of things like that. Let the Council do its thing, let the government do its thing. If the FBI is running this investigation, let them do it. I don’t believe the township needs any extra costs or effort. I want to let justice play out. And I also want to remind everybody that as far as this is concerned, nobody is responsible for the acts of anybody else. Mayor Bencivengo was responsible for his own acts. Nobody on the council is responsible for what he did or didn’t do. None of us are, it was in his mind. Let this thing play out before we jump to any conclusions. Thank you.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 MARILYN JOSE, 665 Yardville-Hamilton Square Road: I want to thank you Mr. Meara for your accommodating the public for its input. It is very much like you, so thank you.

This story is not going away. You’re going to have questions asked about who else in this administration building is involved, who may have been involved, who in the school board was involved, who in the school administration is going to be involved. Hamilton Township is going to have an even bigger black eye in the next couple of months. It is very unfortunate, and I have to tell you, I understand loyalty, I understand loyalty to friends, to party, but listen to me, you have a first loyalty. And that first loyalty is to the reputation of this township. Your second loyalty of course is to the people who live in the township. I guess that’s a whole big package. But your third loyalty is to the integrity of this legislative body. And I know you can’t force the Mayor to resign, but you have to call for his resignation. Because unfortunately gentlemen and lady, it makes you look bad. It is a disservice to us all. This is very unfortunate, and I hope to high heaven he is exonerated But unfortunately, there is enough evidence for our friends in the FBI to have brought in charges. They do not do that lightly. And under the circumstances, there is no other alternative for at least this body to call for his resignation. Because I’m going to tell you, if you don’t, you’re going to be standing for more people to be calling for your resignation. PEGGY NICOL, 517 East Brown Street: I just have a question for Mr. Ricci, in regards to the Arbeiter Hall. You said it’s up for sale, now is that going to turn into a club again? Did I hear that correctly? That is my district and I worry about it. And I will say I have seen more police cars for safety in our area. MR. RICCI: it could be permitted to remain as a social hall, a club as it had for eighty-some years. So it could, yes. Otherwise, the only other use that is permitted there is a residential use. Anything else would have to go before the zoning board. MS. NICOL: Do we know who the buyer is? MR. RICCI: It’s a potential. MS. NICOL: it’s on record? MR. RICCI: No. MS. NICOL: I’ll check on that, thank you. And also, want to follow up on the animal shelter issue. I was over there one time and I had asked to volunteer. And I was told that it is a township facility. That AFEW is the only rescue group that can go in there and volunteer? Am I correct? I was told by the president of AFEW, you have to be a member to volunteer there. MR. RICCI: That’s the first I’m hearing that it’s exclusive to a particular group. MS. NICOL: That’s what I was told. MR. RICCI: Anybody who wants to volunteer, we would accept their services. MS. NICOL: I have a lot of experience with that, and they don’t want my volunteerism. MR. RICCI: Who told you, you couldn’t volunteer? MS. NICOL: The president of AFEW, and also at the animal shelter. MR. RICCI: Did a township employee say that to you? MS. NICOL: Employee also. But I mean, it’s a simple thing, not important. But it is a township facility. MR. RICCI: I agree with you and I don’t see the purpose in having only volunteers from one particular group. There’s other groups we’ve worked with. Obviously, we’d want to make sure you’re qualified and we don’t have a problem. But we have volunteers all over the township for a lot of different things. You don’t have to go through one particular group. MS. NICOL: No, but I’m concerned about the Arbeiter right now, so we’ll follow up on that. Thank you. JANICE GLONEK, 432 Trinity Avenue: I’m just going to follow up on one thing about what Peggy said. Letting them go to a social club again is like letting the problem continue. I mean, I know you probably can’t stop it, but I think you’re really going to have to make sure you let them know right off the bat.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 MR. RICCI: The real problem was because the person there now was renting it out to anyone. A social club is usually just that, it’s a social club, it’s only for the members and their guests, totally different animal. MS. GLONEK: Okay. MR. RICCI: And as I said, they were there for one hundred years with no problems. COUNCILMAN GORE: And if I may, Janice, the other big difference of course, is they no longer will have a liquor license, so they can have their club meetings… MS. GLONEK: That won’t be able to go with them then? COUNCILMAN GORE: They would have to reapply for a liquor license and they would have to ask us. MRS. EILEEN GORE: They would only be able to apply after three years. COUNCILMAN GORE: So it would not be the same as the club as it originally was. MS. GLONEK: That’s like you finally stopped it and then you’re saying oh, let’s start it again. COUNCILMAN GORE: What it sounds like, a social club would have their meetings there. MS. GLONEK: My main reason for coming up is that I was absolutely appalled when I’ve been reading in the paper that two guys were dragged into this mess. Having come here for eight years, almost every single Council meeting, I can honestly say that you guys have done an outstanding job. You put your heart and soul in it, you are very honest, you try to solve all the problems, like I told the Arbeiter people two weeks ago, that you would really try to stop the problem. The people with the Italian American, you’re giving your heart and soul to them. You really truly try, and I find it extremely offensive that you were accused of this. I am appalled at that. I am an Independent, I don’t care whether you are a Democrat or Republican, I judge you by your job not by your party; that means nothing to me. Half the time, I don’t even know what party the President belongs to. I just judge you by what you do. You have done an outstanding job. I find it extremely offensive that you’re dragged into this mess because I know from what you have demonstrated for the past years that I’ve been coming, every meeting that you would never go that low and you were totally honest about everything. And if something comes and blows with the Mayor, that you will do as you’re supposed to do, and you will not cover it up. That’s all I have to say. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: Let me start by saying, at one time, me and the Mayor were at odds over a couple of things. I ran against a couple of you up on Council, had my opinions about things. If I thought for one minute that you did anything wrong, I’d be up here chewing you right out saying how I feel. Councilman Meara, you’re the most honest politician I think I’ve ever seen. For people to ask the Mayor before he’s been convicted to step down… In the Pledge of Allegiance, it says in there justice.

At twenty years old, the prosecutor in the City of New York, charged me with seven crimes, he called me a thug, tried to ruin my reputation. I fought him in court, and I won. I asked him for an apology after everything was over, he apologized. So I was on the other side of the fence, I know what the Mayor is facing.

As far as the FBI goes, as far as the justice department goes, where were they when the Barons was here? I was a Councilman looking for an investigation. None of them would investigate. The State Attorney General’s Office, I petitioned him, he wouldn’t investigate, the justice department wouldn’t investigate, the FBI wouldn’t investigate. So I don’t have too much faith in what they say.

I was talking to the Mayor, I’ve become friends with the Mayor. It’s up to you the Council, as I was a Councilman to realize that the Mayor is doing his job, and that you should know that. That’s the part that you should really know. I talk to him all the time, he’s concerned about economic development, he was telling me about economic development. He knows all about the budget, he had a staff meeting today, I think Mr. Ricci, he was at the staff meeting. How did he do at the staff meeting? He did pretty good I think right? MR. RICCI: He ran the staff meeting as he does every week. MR. CAPODANNO: So I think that the Mayor is going to run this town. The Mayor put a statement out this morning. I don’t know if any of you know. He put a statement out to the people of Hamilton Township. I’ve been talking to him for a couple of weeks. I told him I think it’s time for you to put a

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statement out. I feel that the Mayor really feels he’s innocent. So until the Mayor is found guilty of any charges, I’m not going to say for the Mayor to step down. Then, I’d be his biggest critic. Like I said before, I seen the previous administration do certain things. I didn’t see some of the people here criticizing the former Mayor. I didn’t see a lot of people criticize the Rafferty Administration for what they did. People gave him a pass. When I was talking to the press, one of the things I said to them was, I’m going to come to this Council meeting tonight and I’m going to see who’s here. And if I see a lot of people here that I know are private citizens and they’re outraged, I’m going to start thinking about things. But what I seen here was seventy people, forty of which I know are connected to the Democratic Party.

For the Municipal Chair to get up and say that the Mayor should step down right away, I guess the reason why he wants it right away so that there’s an election in November. Because they’re all chomping at the bit. I didn’t see Linda Greenstein ask for Paul Sigman’s resignation in Trenton. I didn’t see any Democrat so outraged about Corzine’s behavior after governor about money with one of his big companies. I didn’t see any outrage from the Democrats with McGrevy. I didn’t see any outrage from the Democratic party when it came to Glenn Gilmore when I couldn’t even get my second term because they put somebody up against me because I was an independent mind up there. So I know all about them. And a lot of them are here tonight calling for the Mayor’s resignation. So like I said to the press, when I see a couple hundred people on the outside of that municipal building calling for the Mayor’s head, that’s when I’m going to start to really think. Maybe the people in this town are outraged. But as I get around this town, I talk to a lot of people. Let me tell you, I talked to a couple hundred people a week in this town. Most of which are saying to me, give him a brake, let’s see what happens. ROBERT HERNANDEZ, 197 Apple Gate Drive: I’m not like everyone else; I don’t come to all the Council meetings. Because these forums are held for all the residents of Hamilton, not a particular few, not Republicans, not Democrats, but for all that have interest in our community. Demographics here in Hamilton are changing. And with that change, comes an abundance of talent that can be introduced to this township. I’d like to share one thing only, and I’m just going to be very brief. I’m not going to throw the first stone at this Mayor. I don’t know him, I don’t know his personal life, and it really doesn’t interest me one way or the other. But what does interest me is that every day when I walk out of my house, I see children running around our neighborhood that are and somehow affected by what’s going on in our township. At the end of the day, that’s really what it’s all about. We’ve always had a wonderful opportunity to raise our children in a decent environment with leaders as yourselves. Men and women that have given just the most to our township. And I think that needs to continue. And with that in mind, I thank you for having this opportunity, and I will be back. Not necessarily under crisis mode, but to continue to speak my peace, although I don’t come all the time. DANIEL KEELAN, 4 Fisher Place: I, like Mr. Hernandez, I’m not here to cast a stone. I am here to talk about that any claims that this is not a distraction are misguided, the current situation with John Bencivengo. As evidence of not wanting to throw a stone at John Bencivengo, I would like to say to the first speaker, if I may? When we ran a campaign this fall, we stuck to issues. We did not go to innuendo or rumors; we never addressed those well-known rumors. Not going to go there and do that now. The most important thing and facing Council right now is a budget. And you’re proposing a tax increase, and that is the key issue facing this township today in my opinion. And now we’re here talking about John Bencivengo and charges by the US Attorney’s office. If he is not a distraction, and you’re not talking about the budget, primarily tonight, that is evidence that something needs to be done.

The budget today that you’re proposing has been compared in the press to the 2010 budget. When you go back and you look at your 2008 budget, it’s a $15.7 million increase in spending, and you’re proposing a tax increase. And last week, the Councilmembers said, somebody said, I’m okay with that in Council. I’m not okay with that. it is driving people out of this township. There are elderly people being driven out of the township. There are young families choosing not to move into the township because of the tax situation here. Hamilton Township Board of Education is raising taxes, the county is considering raising taxes. Some of the fire districts raised taxes, raising taxes on average $30 at the municipal level has an impact well beyond just the municipal township’s act. There are people here facing hundreds of dollars based on multiple entities, tax increases. I believe you should table the budget for further consideration and you should put out for public display in the clerk’s office, on the township website, and in the library what that $15.7 difference in spending between 2008 and today’s proposed budget is. So that we understand what in that dollar difference is mandated spending and what is not mandated spending. BRUCE MACDONALD, 108 Yardville-Allentown Road: Start off with I think it would be helpful if Mr. Ricci, Mr. Burbage, or Kevin might explain to the people in the room and for the press and everything, what exactly is the job of the township Council. And what is the job of the Mayor? It seems to me just from coming here that you people are basically passing the legislation, and I don’t even think the Mayor has to sign it. It just looks like you pass it and that’s it. Now the Mayor seems just from what I see as a citizen. And I’ve been to party meetings; he’s sort of a public relations figure for the township. He’s always in the paper every time a new restaurant opens or a new business. And I understand what you all said. You all have jobs and this and that. So it just seems like the Mayor is here, he’s running the township, but what exactly is he doing? When I get finished, maybe somebody can explain that just to clear all that up.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 The last speaker mentioned about the budget and this and that. In general I kind of support the Council, but I have my problems with the Council. I think they spend too much money. But then, a lot of this money that the Council spends is pursuant to state law. The Council seems to be not always, you have local businesses opening this and that, and you rule on that. For example, this insurance that was discussed and the lady behind me came up. This, I believe is mandated by state law. There’s certain things that you’re pretty much required to do. And there’s a lot of people here, and I know there’s a lot of Democrats in the room that maybe have a problem with the Council. Now in defense of the Council, the Council does come to the Council meetings. The Council comes to their party meetings, the Council does what they have to do to run the township. If there’s people here that don’t like the council, and you’d like to change state law, and you may not want to vote Democrat, then it’s up to you to get on the ballot. There’s a primary election. Just coming out and hearing complaining, isn’t going to solve anything. You’re going to go back home and watch TV. They’d be happy even now if you lost the Mets, because they’re manufacturing stuff and selling it in this country, and the money is going overseas. The Mayor to me seems like the typical citizen. I’ve seen him at party meetings; I’m sure he works hard. And Mayor Rafferty said he works hard. Just from what I’ve gleamed, just from people coming in my store, because I don’t know any more than you people do. You’re reading it in the paper, I got the Trentonian. Somebody gave me the Trentonian, I read that article. And other people came in. From what I got, he owns four properties, he’s paying for his wife’s house, he’s paying for his own house, he’s got two rental properties in Trenton. When the property tax goes up, he gets hit, just like everybody else. So it just seems to me that he’s pretty much a typical citizen, he’s trying to survive. He makes $98,000 a year from what I red in the paper, but that only goes so far. So again, it comes back to this Council as all the other Council’s in Mercer County and throughout the state of New Jersey are operating pursuant to state and federal law. If you don’t like the law, get on the ballot. PRESIDENT MEARA: I’m sure with the amount of people here, they don’t want me to go into a civics lesson about what Council and what the Mayor is. And I’m humbled enough to know that Kyle Breccaridge would probably do a better explanation from the Nottingham Government and Law Related class over there than I could do. We are two separate branches of government. And you can look at the Mayor as the CEO, and he has people underneath him that work to perform the duties and the operations of the township. And the Council, yes you’re correct, we’re the legislative body, and we provide checks and balances. We have a third branch over at the courts. But the Council basically, once we get the budget, has the purse strings as Mr. Keelan pointed out, but we also pass the laws. I’m sure Kyle will let me know if I left anything out after the meeting. But I guess, that’s a quick and simple way of looking at it. ANTONIO C. GAMBINO, 1003 Hughes Drive: I would like to just say that the FBI is not here tonight and they can’t defend themselves. And I see that Mr. Kenny’s brother made a statement about Mr. Hattfield. Well, I’m going to tell you something about Mr. Hattfield, he got away with it. He was one of the culprits and he got away. That’s what every agent in this country believes that he got away. And he’s a lucky man that he got away too.

Now, this is what I would like to see happen in this town. I would like to see the federal government or the state take this town over, that’s what I would like to see. And if the Mayor resigns, I would like to see all his appointments, you Mr. Burbage, you Mr. Ricci, and every appointment that he made gone. Because you, Mr. Ricci, you came in from a corrupt administration. Because I remember when you first took over from the county, I stood up here and I said, you came in from a corrupt administration. So that’s what I want to see. Every appointment, the judges in Hamilton, gone. Now, I hate to say one because I happen to like Mr. Lozier. But that other political puppet that’s up there, Hoffman, he’s a political puppet. I’d like to see him gone. And you want to know something; it’s not that I could care less about Democrats or Republicans. I care about the people in this town, and the people in this town aren’t getting a fair share. Because I’m going to tell you what, the FBI would not have went after this man if there wasn’t anything to it. KEN BIRD, 112 Route 156: I was just curious when the final meeting would be on the master plan adoption and the changes by the Council? PRESIDENT MEARA: you mean, the final ordinance coming before us? MR. BIRD: Yes, the final changes. MR. RICCI: The master plan has already been adopted by the planning board. And you had requested something beyond what the planning board approved. MR. BIRD: Yes.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 MR. RICCI: So we have not presented any further ordinances to the Council yet. And At this point, I do not have a date. So what I will promise you is because of your particular issue, and I’ll call you Mr. burd about how to do this. There’s a few Mr. President that are looking for something that the planning board did not approve. And we had promised them an opportunity to be heard by the council.

So what we’ll do is see that we get a little proposal put together with a recommendation from the planning board and the property owners. And then you can consider those. Because some of the larger things that we’ve been working on are kind of slowed down. Because the owners or developers of those properties aren’t ready to move ahead. So it kind of slowed the process down. But I don’t want to keep holding up Mr. Burd and some others that have expressed an interest in coming before Council. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: Connie Silokoski approached the Council before about an ordinance. And I think that ordinance was drafted by Common Cause. And Common Cause came to me when I was a Councilman in 2000 when you really didn’t have any Pay to Play legislation in New Jersey. They presented an ordinance to me to see if I could have it passed in our Council. I think it was 2000 or 2001, and we passed it. It was an excellent ordinance, it was probably one of the first in New Jersey. That started momentum in New Jersey to end Pay to Play. It still exists but it’s a little less. I think you should really, really look into that ordinance. Common Cause is probably one of the most, they research with some of the best professors and legal minds in the nation. That ordinance definitely has things in there that I think you can adopt. Even though you’ve done a good job when it comes to your insurance, there’s things in that ordinance that you can adopt. I would really think that especially now, with the scrutiny about the brokers, that you really look into that part, and see if they have something in there, that maybe in the future could protect you. Or you can do things a little bit different, and basically do what they started in 2000 when it came to the Pay to Play Ordinances. BRUCE MACDONALD, 108 Yardville-Allentown Road: Just before I came here to the meeting, a guy came in my store and we were talking. And I mentioned about state law and you’re operating pursuant to state law. The problems that the mayor is having that everybody in this township are having, is money. There’s a man up in Essex County, he’s the Mayor, he’s in the state legislature, and he’s the superintendent of the schools. This guy is triple dipping. He’s got $750,000 worth of unused sick time in his back pocket; that’s state law. Somebody was mentioning people moving out of the township because of property taxes. All of this is mandated by state law pretty much. It’s the state that gives these government employees, and we can start with township, county, school, state, federal, fire, police, EMS; all these benefits which the taxpayer has to pay for. When I say I have problems with the Council, they sent township employees to a drug rehab facility; $36,000. The people in the back who don’t take drugs, they had to pay $36,000 to pay for some drug addicted township employee to go to rehab. Why not just fire them: Say, hey you’re on drugs, you’re fired. No more money, now figure out how you’re going to get your drugs. The same with alcohol, people cause their own disabilities by the things they do. It’s state and federal law. You go on the internet, you see women, they’re bodies are full of tattoos, they can’t get a job, nobody wants to marry them. Is that the taxpayers fault? And then they end up on disability because they messed themselves up. State and federal law could say hey if you mess yourself up, you’re on your own. We’re not going to pay for it. This Council here is basically a foot soldier for state and federal law. They have to apply state law to this township. Am I right? PRESIDENT MEARA: yes. MR. MACDONALD: So when I say get on the ballot, that’s what I mean. If you could change these laws, this Council could save millions of dollars. VINNIE CAPODANNO, 65 Englewood Boulevard: I think you got to really look into that club. The club that you’re having a lot of trouble with, being that you haven’t done the master plan, is there any way that you can zone that out of there? MR. RICCI: It effectively has been zoned out of there right now. What we’ve told them is they’re only entitled to that use as a social club. The club no longer exists. There’s no roster of members. Therefore, they cannot use it as a gathering place or a catering hall. And give them a violation, if they allow any activity there again, they’re going to court and be fined. So it’s basically shut down now, it’s a preexisting use. COUNCILMAN KENNY: Preexisting nonconforming, so they have rights to it. MR. RICCI: They have a right to go back to it being just a social club. And I don’t think any of the neighbors will have a problem with that. They didn’t until about three years ago when the club stopped. They were before Council about eighteen months ago with issues with their liquor license. And the liquor license was returned back then. And the promise was that there was only one or two events that were going to happen, and that was going to be the end of it. Instead, they’re having these large parties, they’re still selling liquor, police have been out there, I can’t tell you how many times.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 MR. CAPODANNO: Have they made arrests? MR. RICCI: Yes. MR. CAPODANNO: The woman that came up, she wanted to volunteer. She should be allowed to volunteer. MR. RICCI: I absolutely agree. MR. CAPODANNO: Whoever told her that was really wrong. I mean, the more volunteers you have, the better. And what’s the status quo on the animal shelter? When is it going to be expanded? MR. RICCI: The contract was awarded a month or so ago by Council for the architect. It’s in the design phase now. So it will be going out for bid hopefully late summer. MR. CAPODANNO: Now, when I speak to the Mayor, I was talking to him about economic development. And he seemed to think that there was a couple of things maybe that might be breaking. What’s going on with the two properties down on 33? They used to be car dealerships. Is there interest in them? MR. RICCI: Yes, there’s interest in them and there may be an announcement about one of them soon. But MR. CAPODANNO: Is Target ready to finalize? MR. RICCI: They’re looking at a site on Route 130 across from the existing Shops At Hamilton. MR. CAPODANNO: Are they ready to come to the Township? MR. RICCI: yes. MR. CAPODANNO: Suburban Plaza, anything going on there? MR. RICCI: yes, they should be submitting plans very soon for a complete rehab and some new tenants. But again, we have to wait till they’re ready to make that announcement. MR. CAPODANNO: So all that will go into the next budget. MR. RICCI: Yes. MR. CAPODANNO: Okay, I thought the Mayor really led the charge when it came to the gross receipts. I thought he had a lot of courage taking on the governor. And he should be commended for that. That’s $5 million taken away from this town that’s not deserving. The State of New Jersey should not take $5 million from us when that’s our money, and he got the ball rolling. Now the League of Municipalities are involved and a lot of other mayors are involved. I think that we should continue to pressure the governor’s office into giving us that money. Because it looks like he’s a little rattled by that. Also, besides I think petitioning the governor, and keeping the heat on him for the money, you should do the same thing with Sweeny. Because Sweeny has his ideas of what he should do with the money. Sweeny is a powerful man. He basically runs the Democratic Party. We had one of Sweeny’s aids here not too long ago. And he was talking about you guys going into a meeting where he should be concerned about more than anything being that he is a Hamilton resident. Being that he is with Sweeny, he should be telling Sweeny to join the Mayor and to join other mayors, and the league of municipalities into giving us our $5 million. That should be his main objective.

And before I leave, maybe we realize more and more like I said to the press, I’m going to come here tonight, and I’m going to look. I’m going to bet money that I’m not going to see hundreds of people here in total outrage. What I’m going to see probably is a room three-quarters full. And forty of which were Democratic operatives. If they want to dispute me about that, they can dispute me about that because I know their faces. But as soon as that was all over, and we still had to continue here and discuss business, which you did very well. And discuss the budget, which is probably one of the most important things in this town. Because all people talk to me about alot is taxes. And they think you did a great job with taxes. I think you did a great job with taxes. And that is their main concern, going home and making sure that the tax levy stays the same. Or in your case, with tough economic times. And I’d be the first one to really criticize you because I hate my taxes going up. And $5 million taken away from us in only a tax increase of only 1¢ or 2¢?

COUNCILMAN KENNY: It’s about 2¢.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 MR. CAPODANNO: Two cents, what $30 a home? I know some people, they can’t deal with $30 a home, but when you get $5 million taken away from you. COUNCILMAN PONE: We could have a tax decrease with $5 million. MR. CAPODANNO: I know, so you’ve done a great job.

Comments from the Council COUNCILMAN KENNY: Just real quick John, the current budget that we have now, we’re going to spend $99,258,191? COUNCILMAN PONE: That’s without the cuts. COUNCILMAN KENNY: Okay, $97 million, and in 2008, we spent about $89 million. And that’s roughly about an 1.89% increase over five years in spending, less than 2% a year. And in fact, we’re spending less in 2012 than we did in 2011. MR. RICCI: Yes, and 10 too. COUNCILMAN PONE: I’ll say something different. Last Tuesday, Councilman Kenny, and I, and Mr. Keelan and some other folks were at the fund raiser for the Sunshine Foundation and they raised money for something called Dream Lift which occurs at 7:00 AM next Tuesday; where a number of disabled children get to go to Disney World for the day. I encourage anybody that has an opportunity that has never seen that before. I go out every year. I think Mr. Gore was out with me last year. And it’s quite inspiring to see the volunteers, to see what the people do. I just encourage everybody, they love having a big crowd waving them out. And I encourage anybody who gets an opportunity to see that to go see that. It’s great, it really is. Thanks for coming out everybody, and we will keep doing our jobs. COUNCILMAN GORE: Before we convene next, it will be Mother’s Day, Happy Mother’s Day in advance to all mothers, grandmothers, Godmothers, and future mothers. PRESIDENT MEARA: I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Councilmembers, the administration, Mr. Burbage. Also, a special thank you to the Clerk’s office. You guys have been working under duress so to speak, situations that we haven’t had to deal with before. You demonstrated your professionalism, your effectiveness, and we cannot thank you enough. As a matter of fact, all the township workers under what’s been going on, we owe a debt of gratitude. But we quickly realize that Hamilton Township is… Whether you’re a Council President, a Mayor, business administrator, it’s more than just one person. And this township will continue function in spite of what’s going on. I came here this evening, knowing that I wanted to allow an enormous amount of flexibility, because this is your house, your Council Chambers. We sit here, but this is your house. But I realize now that in allowing that flexibility, I owe an apology to my administration for things that were said here tonight, where normally I would use the gavel. And to my fellow Councilmembers, suggesting that any one of these Councilmembers should resign, is so far from what should happen. And that Mr. Ricci, I’ve been dealing with John since 1989. He’s the most effective, honest business administrator I’ve ever met. And to represent what was represented tonight, I apologize John, that I didn’t gavel it. There’s thousands and thousands of workers for companies such as Enron when something goes down at the top and that put their life blood into it. And then to be accused or blanketed because of something that’s going on. This is not right. I spend every week dealing with people whose lives have been destroyed and what we actually try to do is focus on the rebuilding of their life; a second chance. And clearly if anything that’s been in the newspapers is true one iota, then clearly the Mayor has a path where his life has been destroyed. And it’s a shame that we can’t look and focus on the rebuilding of someone’s life. When this is all said and done, it’s going to be a reflection on not only us as a government, but as a township of people. And we’re going to be looking back and seeing if we did the right thing. And for this Council to proceed with caution seeking the legal advice that is available to us, and to have to deal with comments about having to resign. I’m proud of every member on Council and the way that we have proceeded through this. I know there was a day when I was younger where I might have jumped on the bandwagon. I try to walk a little slower now and make decisions a little bit differently. But again, I believe this government, people working for this government, those of us that serve in elected office or whether we’re appointed, realize that this government in Hamilton Township is bigger than anyone person. Also, when I was doing my thank yous, I just wanted to make sure that those who protect and serve know that we appreciate that also forever in their debt.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Adjournment: 10:00 PM ___________________________ ________________________ Eileen A. Gore, RMC Kevin J. Meara Municipal Clerk Council President