BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS

MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

February 27, 2013

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Adequate notice of this meeting held the 27th day of February has been provided through resolution
adopted by this Board at a meeting held at the Administration and Records Building on January 4,
2013 through electronic mailing of said resolution to the Star Ledger, the Daily Record and the
Record, through posting on the County website, and by filing a copy of same with the Morris
County Clerk and the Clerk of this Board.

ROLL CALL:

Director Mastrangelo
Deputy Director Scapicchio
Freeholder Cabana
Freeholder Cesaro
Freeholder Grossi
Freeholder Krickus
Freeholder Lyon
SALUTE TO THE FLAG

8:30 a.m.
PROGRAM:
Introduction of the 2013
Morris County Operating Budget

Freeholder Hank Lyon, Chair

Budget Subcommittee

ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

CLERK/DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS

COUNTY COUNSELS REPORT

REVIEW RESOLUTIONS

FREEHOLDERS REPORTS
______________________________________________________________________________
CORRESPONDENCE: None
DISCUSSION: ROAD OPENING PERMITS: None
CLOSED SESSION:
Identify Topic
PERSONNEL
APPOINTMENTS
One Appointment Park Commission
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Improvement Authority Energy Aggregation
Improvement Authority Advertising
PURCHASE, LEASE OR ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY PENDING OR
ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
MATTERS FALLING WITHIN THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE
BPU Issues
Morris County Jail
*Additional information about any resolution or ordinance that appears on the agenda
can be obtained by calling the office of the Morris County Counsel at 973-829-8060.

The public informal work session of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Morris was called
to order by Director Mastrangelo at 8:35 a.m. on February 27, 2013 in the Knox Conference Room,
5th Floor, Administration and Records Building, Court Street, Morristown, New Jersey.
Deputy Clerk of the Board Susan Allard read the open public meeting announcement as to the scheduling
resolution and the publication of notice as required by law.
Freeholders In Attendance:
Director Mastrangelo
Freeholder Cabana (arrived at 8:40 a.m.)
Freeholder Cesaro
Freeholder Grossi

Freeholder Krickus
Freeholder Lyon
Freeholder Scapicchio

Freeholders Absent:
None
Staff Present
Administrator Bonanni
Assistant Administrator Buchanan
Clerk of the Board Ketchum
Deputy Clerk of the Board Allard
County Counsel Dan OMullan
Assistant County Counsel Bush

Director Burd
Director DiGiralomo
Director Hammond
Director Leary
Director Pinto
Director Roe
Public Information Officer Garifo

Others Present:
The meeting was open to the public and press.
ADMINISTRATORS REPORT
Mr. Bonanni reminded the Freeholder Board that
the Morris County Economic Development awards
luncheon will take place this Friday.
The next Insurance Fund Commission meeting is
scheduled for March 4 at 5 p.m.
Prior to the Six-County meeting on March 6,
Warren County freeholders would like to meet with
the Freeholder Director and the Administrator to
discuss shared services.

Director Mastrangelo noted that this

includes feedback from Planning &
Development, the Park Commission and
the MUA. All were comfortable with the
open space allocations.
Freeholder Lyon continued that they have
been able to control taxes as well as being
able to provide services that are expected
by the residents. They will be pleased that
the programs they care about are reflected
in the budget. Actual spending is reduced
by $2.3 million.

Freeholder Cabana joined the meeting at 8:40 a.m.

Introduction of the 2013 Operating Budget
Director Mastrangelo thanked all the freeholders,
department heads and the administrator for
working extremely hard collectively and
collaboratively on the 2013 budget. Without
everyones input we would not have been able to
obtain a zero percent increase.
Freeholder Lyon noted that this takes care of all of
the critical services while providing a zero percent
increase on the budget which gives the residents
some tax relief.
This is the first time in the last fifteen years that
the operating budget is at a zero percent tax
increase level.
The budget subcommittee is advocating a $3.9
million reduction in the open space tax and a 3/8
cent per $100/assessed property value reduction
over 2012. The combined operating and open
space tax is reduced by 1.7%.

Their ability to achieve this has a lot to do

with the State saving the County $1 million
in pension and health care reforms as well
as the County saving $2 million by
rearranging its health care plans.
$1.1 million was saved in salary expense
with 63 fewer positions mainly from
outsourcing of Morris View housekeeping.
Freeholder Mastrangelo noted the
highlights of the budget:

Over 500K meals will be provided

to Morris County senior citizens.
Morris View Healthcare remains
home to 283 residents.
Level funding has been allocated to
the County College of Morris, Morris
County School of Technology and the
Morris County Park Commission.
Human Services programs continue
Aging, Disabilities and Veterans
Services, Mental Health Services,

Substance Abuse Services, Emergency

Assistance Services and Transportation
Services.
Continuing with Public Safety Services;
Sheriffs Office, Prosecutors Office, the
Correctional Facility, Office of Emergency
Management, the Public Safety Training
Academy, 911 Emergency Communication
Center (of which 23 municipalities are now
using our emergency dispatching services),
Office of Health Management, the County
Hazmat Response, Juvenile Detention/Youth
Shelter (now shared services with four
counties).
The Financial strength is maintained
through a lower budget, reduction in
salaries/employees, reduction in health care
costs, reduction in pension costs, reasonable
long term labor agreements and use of surplus
remains unchanged. We will continue to
maintain our AAA bond rating.

Freeholder Krickus noted there is a reduction in the

capital budget. This will affect our debt levels
positively. A number of projects are underway an
addition to the Public Safety Training Academy;
renovations to the Central Avenue Complex; and
the turf fields of Central Park.
Additions include:

Economic Development investments for the

Morris County Tourism Bureau related to the
promotion of special events including the
2014 Super Bowl.

An additional $20,000 was provided to the

Morris County Economic Development
Corporation related to the promotion of
businesses in Morris County.

$40,000 was allocated to dispose of

ammunition and fireworks collected by
municipalities (shared service).

Retaining a chief information officer with

funding provided by a vacant position in the
Information Technology Department.

The key objective is to more efficiently go

forward and continue to look to helping with
efficiencies for the municipalities.
To conclude -- the 2013 budget -- there are some
risks going forward with uncertainties of Medicaid
funding; potential increases to healthcare with the
Affordable Care Act/Obamacare to increase the
cost of healthcare plans across the board.
Interest arbitration one of the areas that needs
reform. This is taking place and Freeholder
Krickus hopes it will continue going forward into
2014.
This 2013 budget does recognize some of the
Medicaid revenue reduction and if it does not
happen, this will work well for the budget.
They will continue to restructure certain County
operations to achieve efficiencies.

Planning for 2014 we will continue to use

the 0% resolution to be modified as
required.
Going forward they propose to have
Planning and Development, the Park
Commission and the MUA work on
preparing a document to forecast future
open space needs. We are not looking to
expand government.
Freeholder Lyon informed the Board that
the budget subcommittee will convene
immediately to start talking about steps to
be taken for 2014. The budget
subcommittee could not do this process
without the input of Mr. Bonanni,
Ms. Buchanan, Mr. Roe and Mr. Kovalcik
at each of the meetings. He thanked the
department heads for all that they do as
well as Freeholder Grossi as past budget
chair.
Director Mastrangelo gave a special thanks
to Freeholder Grossi who sat down last
week and worked out open space
allocations with Planning & Development,
the Park Commission and the MUA. They
expect the Governor will implement more
tools that will continue to help maintain an
aggressive budget and services.
Comments:
Freeholder Cabana feels this is a credit to
the Board and the County for coming up
with a zero percent increase budget that
does not impact services or the surplus. He
thanks Freeholders Grossi, Nordstrom and
Feyl. He does believe it has been the prior
planning that set the stage beginning with
Freeholder Druetzler creating the budget
subcommittee.
Freeholder Scapicchio is happy to be part
of this Board in adopting a zero percent
increase. A lot of effort has gone into the
document.
Freeholder Cesaro is glad we were able to
accomplish this. It was one of his
campaign promises. He still would prefer
the 1/2 cent reduction, but will support the
3/8 cent reduction. Its the employees that
are the engine that run the County. He will
always continue to ask why such as he
did with the cent open space reduction
Freeholder Grossi congratulated everyone
for putting together a zero percent tax
increase while maintaining all the services.
From the beginning it was always our goal
to do the zero percent. Unfortunately in the
past two years they could not use the fruits
of our governors plans until this year. By
moving the health care benefits plan from
traditional to PPO has helped us move
towards that goal. It is not an easy job

working on the budget subcommittee. This is what

the people of Morris County deserve. She is very
pleased that the staff will be reviewing and putting
together a plan for future open space needs. She
supports the 1/2 cent reduction but will support the
3/8 cent reduction.
The Board was polled to approve placing the 2013
budget as presented on the evening meeting and all
were in favor.
Freeholder Krickus is interested in having the
audio tapes placed on the web. This request will
be put on the Transparency Group agenda.

The meeting returned to open session at

9:34 a.m. Those present were Freeholders
Mastrangelo, Cabana, Cesaro, Grossi,
Krickus, Lyon and Scapicchio.
Also present were John Bonanni, County
Administrator; Dan OMullan, County
Counsel; Mary Jo Buchanan, Assistant
Administrator; and Randy Bush, Assistant
County Counsel.
Freeholder Lyon made a motion to adjourn
at 9:35 a.m. and reconvene at 7:00 p.m.
Freeholder Cesaro seconded the motion.
All unanimously agreed.

Clerk of the Board Ketchum reported that the SixCounty Coalition will meet on March 6 and
Passaic County will host.

Respectfully submitted,

DEPARTMENT HEADS
Mr. Roe reported that they are proceeding with a
refunding for Denville through the Improvement
Authority.

Diane M. Ketchum
Clerk of the Board

RESOLUTIONS
The Board reviewed and discussed the resolutions.
Of note is Resolution No. 29 to change the time of
the work session and regular meeting for the
remainder of 2013.
At 9:10 a.m. Mr. OMullan read the following:
WHEREAS, pursuant to P.L. 1975 Ch. 231, the
Open Public Meetings Act, the Board may exclude
the public to discuss matters as are provided under
the Act; and
WHEREAS, said Act provides that this Board
exclude the public from the discussion of such
matters,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this
Board hereby excludes the public in order to
discuss such matters. The general nature of the
subjects to be discussed is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Appointment Park Commission

Contracts Improvement Authority
energy aggregation
Contracts Improvement Authority
advertising contract.
Attorney/Client Privilege BPU
issues
Attorney/Client Privilege Morris
County Jail issue

Pursuant to Resolution No. 1, January 4, 2013, if

this closed session agenda is not completed this
morning, closed session will be reconvened at 7:00
p.m.

At 7:04 p.m. the informal work session was

called to order by Director Mastrangelo.
Clerk of the Board Ketchum called the role.
Those present were Freeholders
Mastrangelo, Cabana, Cesaro, Grossi,
Krickus, Lyon and Scapicchio.
Also present were John Bonanni, County
Administrator; Dan OMullan, County
Counsel; Mary Jo Buchanan, Assistant
Administrator; Randy Bush, Assistant
County Counsel; Cathy Burd, Director of
Employee Resources, Chief John Kowalski,
Morris County Jail; and Dr. William
Gluckman.
At 7:05 p.m. Mr. OMullan read the
following:
WHEREAS, pursuant to P.L. 1975 Ch. 231,
the Open Public Meetings Act, the Board
may exclude the public to discuss matters
as are provided under the Act; and
WHEREAS, said Act provides that this
Board exclude the public from the
discussion of such matters,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
that this Board hereby excludes the public
in order to discuss such matters. The
general nature of the subjects to be
discussed is as follows:
1.
2.

Appointment Park Commission

Attorney/Client Privilege County
Jail
issue

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Allard
Deputy Clerk of the Board

The meeting returned to open session at

7:29 p.m. Those present were Freeholders
Mastrangelo, Cabana, Cesaro, Grossi,
Krickus, Lyon and Scapicchio.

Also present were John Bonanni, County

Administrator; Dan OMullan, County Counsel;
Mary Jo Buchanan, Assistant Administrator; and
Randy Bush, Assistant County Counsel.
Freeholder Cabana made a motion to adjourn at
7:30 p.m. Freeholder Lyon seconded the motion.
All unanimously agreed.
Respectfully submitted,

Diane M. Ketchum
Clerk of the Board