001I'm happy to say Thank you. Also, You're right. So we Okay. So you see two capital just finding this service. So at the beginning of this year based upon become we noticed that there were problems where a lot of come in fore Well, it's my experience that it's not application account. This will happen. This has to do both. It's a snapshot as weapons. That never occurred. Uh but they continue to have check it out someday. Um but basically what happens is that differences That's all I have. By the way, that's the actual surplus that we copy. The uh excess surplus calculation based upon number which is a number is based upon the general fund that $73. They were adjusted for people. So what you number 2% number one of $50,000 extraordinary that you spend $4,000
002and additional So what happens that money excess money is most spending. What happened? So they're giving you that left number on the bottom. Section two, we get actual fund balance of which 864,000 year. What that is the monies that we have that we're going this year on the bottom of your balance. Um, so what you're left with and you're only 1 million1 top that money That's a minimum about This is Okay, tonight this meeting is significant in that it's the first one for Mr. I'd like to say congratulations and thank you for joining us. We all with you. It is also significant in that it's our last meeting and Mr. Cohen. On behalf of the board, I'd also like to thank both of them for their years of service to the best community. Um, I
003want to make the board aware of our schedule come January. There are three Tuesday meetings in the month that we will have to meet on January 6 for the reading board, January 13th for the committee meetings, and then a regular workshop meeting on each one. Please, please, please mark your calendars. I've scheduled New Jersey School Board's attorneys to meet with us on January 13th for the committee meetings to discuss discuss setting our negotiations goals. On the 20th, I have set up a board ethics and compliance training with the regular meeting. Please mark your calendars on that as well. And I hope especially on the candidate this morning. Uh recently uh the board received a letter from the county county superintendent with his opinion and orders on filling uh valoring McInness's vacant seat in January. At
004this point in time, I'm going to turn it over to our attorney Joe and have him explain the letter to As you heard Mrs. asked me to update the public and the board not aware if any um of the inter as you know her name remained on ballot for last month's election. uh due to some timing issues like her date of passing the ballots. So she actually won me fellowship and obviously there's a vacancy for next month's reorganization meeting. Recently about weeks ago we received a letter from the interseive county superintendent informing us that he was exercising his authority and was appointing an individual to the board seat. So he has appointed Mr. and the front row. Uh the seat to be filled will be for one year and then the remaining vacancy ballot next
005for the election. So Mr. will coordinate intersect [Music] actually support his reasons for doing this but um that as it may that's where we are so welcome Thank you. Um, okay. [Music] And I'd like to wish all happy holiday season and be safe when it comes to [Music] Anybody else? All in favor? This Okay, I have um here Please second please. C A L I S. October tonight. Once again, ask for your consideration. This request is not only and also asking forally I was advising noting the cost of this is something considered unique to however after it's important to know what coffee is based every high school budget of $95,500. This amount includes $62,500 times not included in your school. Each player $650 regional health department $25,000 which include the two practices in all information
006regarding their funding each $300 high school receives $30,000. practicing all again the regular high school $25,500 again I was able to receive coaching. However, I did learn that hockey player $300. As I mentioned in October 1,000 county program one practice a week in all the total also spend $7,000 allocating individual money towards the ice court program. In order to grow our program, thank you very much. You are right. Um, number 10 is a recommendation of superintendent agree to offset the cost of ice climbing the support of West Milford High School hockey team $5,000 for 2014 2015. I'm here tonight and evening. I am here joined by some of them others at the collective. However, we welcome together our work together and of course trainings change. We receive broadcast on daily basis requirements policy and regulations.
007We read professional journals people that tell us where we should be what we should and should not damage the teeth and how to and should all actually change however little concern me administrators at the education program levels need to know that we are committed to that task as the professional support and we are all part of the same community thank you very much again I emphasize the fact that it's it's a pleasure to be here and I enjoy our working relationship so far and I'm sure we can build upon that and make things better and stronger each and every day. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Thank you, Steve. I received letter I think you could do that. I gota tell you never I'm sorry. Good evening. Susan Neb as president of the West Milford Education Association
008which includes the teachers, special class aids, the custodians and maintenance people and the secretaries and building a we'd like to publicly welcome you and shape it to the holidays. Collectively, we are proud of the district we have built and the products that we turn out. Our 80 square miles are filled with creativity, brilliance, and hard work. We look forward to working together in a capacity that includes open communication and proactive thinking. To uh piggyback off Mr. Bailey's comment last month when he encouraged you to leave your red and uh gray at the bottom of West Road. So I have one thing to say. I personally left my red and gray lake plant stop at the bottom of West Road 35 years ago. I've never looked back. Wester is a great place to live. Love you.
009Again, I thank you and uh I assure I assure you that my red and gray is uh no longer part of my wardrobe. Okay. Thank you again. Thank you. Is there anybody else? All in favor? Okay. Budget attendance is still Is that Yes. Thank you, Mr. B. You left out young in your description, but I I won't take too much offense at that. Well preserved, maybe. Uh, I'd like to argue tonight that this vote is premature. And it's premature because the fate of the Hillrest building and our ownership and landlord activities in that building are tied into the fate of the proposed library in this town. And it's my belief that with the new election to the town council that within a period of two months, that is roughly by the end of February, that
010the council is going to address the library in terms of either voting up or down support or financing to both basically bond the the core library construction andor any space that the town would like to occupy meeting rooms. And when that vote is taken, whenever it's taken, it's going to be a signpost for what happens to Hillrest if the town approves funding for the library. We've all read in the papers over the last four and six months that the town's plan would appear to be to pull their community center tenants out of that building, out of Hillrest and move them either to the new library meeting rooms or the PAL building. Unfortunately, what's not been reported in the paper is that I think there are one or more tenants in the Hillrest building who are
011likely not going anywhere if there's a new library built or not. The most prominent of which from what I can see is a new life recovery center which occupies a fair amount of space at one arm and one arm of that building. If the new library is approved and most of the tenants leave and new life and andor others because we do not have a rent role for that building are left behind then the school board will change from being a passive owner of that structure where in fact the town right now is the sub landlord. So they collect grants they maintain the building on RPAT we are the over landlord or owner. If they pull most everyone out, we will become an active landlord. And if that happens, we will be responsible for heating,
012lighting, cleaning, securing, and maintaining that building for whatever tenants are left. And as I say, I think there's going to be a vote coming up in the next couple of months in the council when we go forward on the library. If that vote is yes, then we can look to be an active landlord probably sometime in 2016. I've talked to people on the library board. They've been actively uh putting their plans together and I believe they will go into the ground with construction in 2015 if they get approved and it's not a highly complex building so it should be occupied 2016. If the vote goes against the library, then I think we face an entirely different situation in which we could be long-term owners and over landlords as we are today under the lease that's
013in force with the town being the self landlord for whatever tenants they keep. So once again, I think our vote at this time, if you read these actual provisions, um they do not favor us if the town goes forward with the library, pulls the most of the tenants out, and leaves us to be an active landlord. So, what I would propose to do, I'd like to make a motion now to table this vote until the March meeting in 2015, thereby giving the town uh almost two and a half months, the town council to go one way or another on the new library and give us some direction as to if you're going to be a passive owner or an active landlord. and having the uh the thing you need to understand is if you are
014an active landlord, these lease modifications restrict our use of already earned rent to performing capital improvements. If we're an active landlord, we have to use some of that money to buy heating oil, pay electric bills, hire custodians to do work, that is to work with an active landlord. And there's really no sense in passing something now, lease modifications now that not only restrict our use of that money going forward if this quality happens, but further restrict us in the sense if we don't use that money on capital improvements for five years after the town pulls out, they will then take back some of that money, which I find to be beyond the pale. We have earned that rent. It's sitting in an escrow account. It's not hurting anyone. It will be there the day the
015town pulls out. And in my judgment, there's no judge in New Jersey who would not break that escrow in our favor at the time that the town pulls out. We have earned the rent. We have paid good on our part of the bargain, which is provide them with the building and they pay us the rent. And that's that's the deal. So, I would like to move right now to table this vote until the March meeting of the school board. Yes. [Music] There But the main point is I think that following what we want to do with that. I know that order. I don't I understand. What's happening? Find Now you must What's that? Hello. contact. Um, doesn't still council decides they don't want to go forward they effectively are saying they want to go forward
016then I think it's appropriate for us to take the money that's currently sitting nicely protected in yes we use capital improvements because we have a perspective going forward of seeing some landlord tenants however I think the president mischaracterizes what we have today. We have a lease in force. It's a signed lease. It's in force. It's being reached I think by the other side and it governs the operation of that building on a day-to-day basis and as I suggested before and I saw protest here uh the money sitting in the escrow account especially it's to us and they've occupied all inventories in there put it simply These police modifications would allow the town council to effectively intrude into our authority over how that money is spent. We do not collect money here and give other people
017the right to take it back five years. We didn't spend it fast enough. That's exactly what these do. And that's an infusion on our authority and sovereignty. the money that we have earned, money that's sitting in the espro years past. So this notion of if we don't spend fast enough ridiculous we are in there as an active lands inconvenience minor problem. No, that's a big deal. That buildings and zones for We're going to heat the entire building. Who knows what that costs? We're going to have lights in your facilities, whatever. And that is not capital improvements. That's operating expense. And lease mod us from spending money for that kind of work in land. So this these lease modifications solve nothing. The current lease in force is just fine. Yes, broke out just fine. I think
018it's a problem. Up the top. That's your What are we doing? Yes. 1 through six discussion. Yes. Number 14. You want to know what? Yes. Number 16. Yes. Number 17 discussion. Yes. Discussion. Yes. Happy personality. Got it. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'll see you. Yeah. Yes. Education discussion. Yes. We don't special. Awesome. Three. super concerned about repairs that we question I am that were last year are very High numbers I believe. Looks like question after school after Very good. Well, at school. That's why everybody [Music] going around the horn here. In terms of the legislature, they passed a handful of bills regarding vocational education, uh, which if you've ever visited really fun campus, but somehow the state legis getting their share. Moving on from that cynical perspective, the real action this week has been in the
019courts. There are two very interesting cases that are working their way to the courts. One, some rural districts in the southern part of the state have gone to court claiming that they are not being funded as much as they should be districts and other disadvantaged districts. In the initial decision, which I believe was handed down last Friday, the first superior court judge ruled against the plaintiffs, but I saw a headline where it says plaintiff's lawyers confident that they can proceed. So, they're going to keep going. Why is that important? Well, if they actually prevail in court and more state aid has to be sent to those districts, that means there's less state aid every other district. The other much bigger case that's now in front of the court another court is the state pension trustees
020assuing the governor for breach of his promise to make timely payments a certain amount of money to the state pension plan called the governor citing commissions not enough money said I'm not willing to pay what I said I was pay that would seem to carry even more weight around the state held by court to put that money into pension plan. uh that money is going to probably come out of money that they go into school a state. that potentially can be trouble. And I would simply make this point in light of something our auditor said earlier today. He was talking about reserve accounts all the first thing we're here all money. So I would suggest surviving colleagues here on the next board carefully about the downside that facing crisis education. supposed. All business. One thing
021that I learned about right away that all children are research that [Music] always when I first came onto the board without a doubt only and grateful appreciation of your dedicated service to children schools. I'd like to thank the board very much for this wonderful plaque and resolution. I would be remiss up here if I didn't thank my constituents and growing public for honoring me these last almost 10 years with a seat on this board. Uh this is truly an privilege to serve up here and it's something that is probably said I have taken seriously from the beginning. I would be further remiss if I didn't thank certain unane people in the administration of the school district some of whom have come on live on memory uh for taking me from my status as newbie and
022you need to understand that school board members have been part of service you start out you're hopeless and helpless you progress long enough you get to the point where you're dangerous right now I'm using very dangerous But I'd like to thank the nameless multitudes who in the administration really that's kind of our close family school serve our needs on a day-to-day basis. I'd like to thank them very much and I'd further like to point out that some of you may be operating under some kind of illusion illusion. I've had people come up to me and say I I saw the the tape of that meeting the other night. It looked like you were in Phoenix the entire meeting. Are you suffering up there? Is it is it bad? Is there anything I can do to
023help? And I just want to point out that this has been a great hoax that I perpetrated for almost 10 years. Actually, I enjoy every minute of this. And to tie that into my closing statement here, we're always looking for good on the school board. The key thing is you have to love it. You have to love every bit of it. It's going to be things that might frustrate us to see the good in it. I can tell you that whatever your skills and talents are, you will be challenged to the extreme in fulfilling your duties here to the max gives me great plenty of looking around the table because I have been several people around this table what that is. Uh but I I'm I'm not finished with education issues, you know, moving forward
024into my what I call golden years. I still have enough energy uh to do things moving forward. So, thank you all very much. Thank you all people who show up at these meetings. It's no fun staring at a bunch of NPCs and u I will be moving on and I will I will certainly miss certain aspects of this but I'm told that the bow tie on a cinemas now have a program which they're running that they call super Tuesday for those of you who don't know it our program meets is also called super Tuesday so now I will have no conflict between our super Tuesday and both I Tuesday which has highly discounted first run movie tickets. So there you can see the first step and I would like I just I just I should
025thank my significant other Christian who's sitting out in the audience for suffering through this maybe from her perspective maybe not enjoying it quite as much as I did for n4 years. Thank you very much. Right. [Music] It tastes almost as good. Speech. Speech. Speech. [Music] Happy How about yours? [Applause] Then you were appointed and at that point of the board members Mr. experience of what you as a young man were not a very strong opinion and one change and I also had and I tell people that more energy and all especially. So that service So bright. Okay. What the heck? [Laughter] I would like to take everyone. What's that? You are hurt. What is that? Looking good. I don't know. What is up? Right. [Laughter] What you are seeing? Love you. I certainly do want
026to wish both of you love and thank you for your service and most of all for inviting me to your last meeting which is my first meeting and I wish we could be working together for a longer period of time but certainly after speaking to both of you gentlemen my door is open please call at any time stop they will be happy to listen so and Um I did want to make two other announcements today to uh the Rotary Club. Uh I was invited along with some of our staff members and they held a very nice lunchon. Our special ed students and the McAfee School was involved in the in the program and also Maple Road School and our special ed department and uh the children had a wonderful time. There was an addition there
027in between them. Santa Claus came, gave out gifts, and of course they they had a nice want to thank the Rotary Society for that wonderful afternoon. And I do have an announcement. I'm very proud of a young lady that I just started working with. Obviously, uh our new director will be our director of special services in July. He's currently supervisor who just completed her doctorate in occupational therapy. So, Elizabeth is now Dr. Second She tried